The Day You Come

"The Day You Come" was the first single off Internationalist to be released, and thus gave an impression of what the album was set to contain. Lead singer Bernard Fanning said this impression was inaccurate, describing the song as being "not very up-tempo" compared to the rest of the album. He said one of the reasons the next single released was "Don't Wanna Be Left Out/Good-Day Ray" was that it was the complete opposite; a much more "thrashy" single than "The Day You Come".{{cite web |url=http://www.ozmusic-central.com.au/powderfinger/text/articl13.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010217134449/http://www.ozmusic-central.com.au/powderfinger/text/articl13.htm |archive-date=17 February 2001 |title=Finger on the Pulse |work=HIT |last=Bolster |first=Teresa |date=December 1998 |publisher=Powderfinger Central |access-date=22 October 2007}} Guitarist Ian Haug agreed, adding that the band had not intended for "The Day You Come" to be the first single off the album, but it was released because the band couldn't decide on any other songs to release.{{cite web |url=http://www.ozmusic-central.com.au/powderfinger/text/articl37.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020628202452/http://www.ozmusic-central.com.au/powderfinger/text/articl37.htm |archive-date=28 June 2002 |title=The Beckoning Finger |work=JUICE |last=Watts |first=Benedict |date=November 1998 |publisher=Powderfinger Central |access-date=22 October 2007}}

As well as the band's usual line-up, "The Day You Come" featured backing vocals from Brisbane trio Tiddas. This was the first time the trio worked with Powderfinger. They would also provide backing vocals on "Passenger",{{cite web |url=http://www.ozmusic-central.com.au/powderfinger/text/articl38.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020628202622/http://www.ozmusic-central.com.au/powderfinger/text/articl38.htm |archive-date=28 June 2002 |title=Taking Flight |work=JUICE |last=Clode |first=Samantha |date=October 1998 |publisher=Powderfinger Central |access-date=22 October 2007}} and on future songs including "Like a Dog" and "Thrilloilogy".{{cite book |author=Fanning |author2=Middleton |author3=Haug |author4=Collins |author5=Coghill |display-authors=et al |title=Fingerprints: The Best of Powderfinger, 1994–2000 |publisher=Powderfinger|pages=8, 9}}{{Full citation needed|date=May 2019|reason=This is not a book}} "The Day You Come" also featured Nick DiDia for the first time, who would go on to be a long term producer for the band.

The video for "The Day You Come" features the band along with many others at a formal gathering/party at The Tivoli in Brisbane.

{{Listen|filename=Powderfinger-TheDayYouCome-29sec.ogg|title="The Day You Come"|description=A 29-second sample from Powderfinger's "The Day You Come".|format=Ogg}}

"The Day You Come" was the first Powderfinger song to contain notable political references, although the band denied attempting to "preach" through their music. Haug said the band was happy to be quoted on politics, but not to have their words preached, telling Benedict Watts: "I personally like to separate [the two] a bit [...] If someone asks us what our views are, we'll tell them, but we don't go out to our gigs and preach about things." Fanning agreed, saying, "We would never try and preach, we would only ever try and suggest things to people as possibilities.", comparing the band to Midnight Oil, especially its lead singer-turned-politician and activist, Peter Garrett. Fanning didn't rule out political messages altogether, however, but enforced the need for moderation and for not "preaching".{{cite web |url=http://www.ozmusic-central.com.au/powderfinger/text/articl12.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010217134647/http://www.ozmusic-central.com.au/powderfinger/text/articl12.htm |archive-date=17 February 2001 |title=Talkin' Politics? |work=Beat Magazine |last=Johnson |first=Neala |date=December 1998 |publisher=Powderfinger Central |access-date=22 October 2007}}

When the song was released, there was speculation that it alluded to Pauline Hanson's political climb; however, the band has reported that the song is more vague than specifically referring to one person, indicating that the song was not directly describing or attacking Hanson, though not ruling out that she may be one of many described. Indeed, the song's release fell within the political peak of Hanson's party, One Nation.{{cite web |website=Hindley Site |url=http://www.hindleysite.com/songs/dayoutcome.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071216103040/http://www.hindleysite.com/songs/dayoutcome.htm |archive-date=16 December 2007 |title=The Day You Come |access-date=24 August 2007}}

"The Day You Come" received the ARIA Award for Single of the Year at the ARIA Music Awards of 1999{{cite web |url=http://ariaawards.com.au/history-by-artist.php?letter=P&artist=Powderfinger |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926235606/http://ariaawards.com.au/history-by-artist.php?letter=P&artist=Powderfinger |archive-date=26 September 2007 |website=ARIA 2007 Awards |title=History: Artist: Powderfinger |access-date=8 August 2007}} and was nominated for the APRA Award for Song of the Year, though this award was won by "Addicted to Bass" by Amiel.{{cite web |url=http://www.apra.com.au/awards/music/noms1999.asp |website=APRA Music Awards |title=1999 Music Awards Nominations: Song of the Year |access-date=24 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928071545/http://www.apra.com.au/awards/music/noms1999.asp |archive-date=28 September 2007}} The song also placed as No. 8 on the Triple J Hottest 100, 1998.{{cite web | title=Hottest 100 1998 | url=http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100/history/1998.htm | work=Triple J | access-date=11 June 2007}} In May 2001, APRA, as part of its 75th Anniversary celebrations, named "The Day You Come" as one of the Top 30 Australian songs of all time.{{cite web|url=http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/APRAAwards/MusicAwards/History/2001Top30Songs.aspx |title=APRA/AMCOS 2001 Top 30 Songs |publisher=Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) |access-date=3 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140401091541/http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/apraawards/musicawards/history/2001Top30Songs.aspx |archive-date=1 April 2014}}{{cite web |url=http://www.debbiekruger.com/pdfs/aprathirty.pdf |last=Kruger |first=Debbie |title=The songs that resonate through the years |publisher=Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) |date=2 May 2001 |access-date=3 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081030100404/http://www.debbiekruger.com/pdfs/aprathirty.pdf |archive-date=30 October 2008}}

1. "The Day You Come" – 4:01
2. "Polly" – 3:31
3. "Ironical" – 1:49
4. "John Callahan" – 3:08

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Category:Powderfinger songs

Category:1998 singles

Category:1998 songs

Category:ARIA Award-winning songs

Category:Universal Records singles

Category:Songs written by Jon Coghill

Category:Songs written by John Collins (Australian musician)

Category:Songs written by Bernard Fanning

Category:Songs written by Ian Haug

Category:Songs written by Darren Middleton