The Bug

For the musical artist of the same name, see The Bug (musician). For the Thoroughbred racehorse, see The Bug (horse).

"The Bug" is a song written by Mark Knopfler and originally recorded by Dire Straits on the final studio album by the band, On Every Street (1991).^[2] It was covered by Mary Chapin Carpenter in 1992, and also recorded on the albums Blues Ballads (1996) by The Alex Bollard Assembly^[3] and Keep Your Hands to Yourself (2002) by Mike Berry & The Outlaws.^[4]

"The Bug"
Single by Dire Straits
from the album On Every Street
B-side	"Twisting by the Pool" "Expresso Love" "Walk of Life"
Released	15 June 1992 (1992-06-15) (UK)[1]
Genre	Rockabilly[2]
Length	4:16
Label	Vertigo
Songwriter(s)	Mark Knopfler
Producer(s)	Mark Knopfler
Dire Straits singles chronology
"On Every Street" (1992) "The Bug" (1992) "You and Your Friend" (1992)

Dire Straits

The song is the fourth and final UK single from the album On Every Street by English rock band Dire Straits, where it reached #67, and it also was to be Dire Straits' final single release in the UK. The song reached #21 in Canada.^[5] Other songs from the album were released as singles in selected countries ("You and Your Friend" in France and Germany or "Ticket to Heaven" in Netherlands).

Track listings

7-inch vinyl single

1. "The Bug"
2. "Twisting by the Pool"

5-inch CD single

1. "The Bug"
2. "Twisting by the Pool"
3. "Expresso Love"
4. "Walk of Life"

Mary Chapin Carpenter

"The Bug"
Single by Mary Chapin Carpenter
from the album Come On Come On
B-side	"Rhythm of the Blues"
Released	1993
Studio	Bias
Genre	Country
Length	3:47
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	Mark Knopfler
Producer(s)	John Jennings, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Steve Buckingham
Mary Chapin Carpenter singles chronology
"The Hard Way" (1993) "The Bug" (1993) "He Thinks He'll Keep Her" (1993)

The song was covered by Mary Chapin Carpenter on her 1992 album Come On Come On,^[6] and was released as a single the next year, peaking at 16 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles & Tracks.^[7] This version of the song is also included on the soundtrack of the 2006 animated film Everyone's Hero.

Charts

Chart (1993)	Peak position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[8]	22
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[9]	16