Rome Wasn't Built in a Day (song) explained

Rome Wasn't Built in a Day
Cover:	RomeWasn'tBuiltInADay.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	Morcheeba
Album:	Fragments of Freedom
B-Side:	"Frogmarched to Freedom" "In the Hands of the Gods"
Studio:	Morcheeba Heads Quarter (South London, England)
Genre:	Blues^[1]
Length:	3:35
Label:	EastWest WEA
Producer:	Paul Godfrey Ross Godfrey Pete Norris
Prev Title:	Summertime
Prev Year:	1998
Next Title:	Be Yourself
Next Year:	2000

"Rome Wasn't Built in a Day" is a song by English musical group Morcheeba. It was released in Europe on 3 July 2000 as the lead single from their third studio album, Fragments of Freedom (2000), and was given a UK release on 24 July. The song is the group's biggest hit in their native United Kingdom, where it peaked at number 34. In New Zealand, the song reached number two and was the 13th-most-successful single of 2000. Elsewhere, the single reached the top 40 in Australia, Italy, and Switzerland. "Rome Wasn't Built in a Day" is reported to have reached the top 10 in 10 countries.^[2]

Track listings

All versions of "In the Hands of the Gods" feature Biz Markie.

UK CD1 and cassette single^{[3] [4]}

1. "Rome Wasn't Built in a Day" – 3:34
2. "Frogmarched to Freedom" – 4:59
3. "In the Hands of the Gods" (Tumbleweed Gunslinger mix) – 4:16

UK CD2^[5]

1. "Rome Wasn't Built in a Day" – 3:34
2. "In the Hands of the Gods" (Cheeky Cheeba Chainsaw mix) – 3:19
3. "Rome Wasn't Built in a Day" (video)

European CD single^[6]

1. "Rome Wasn't Built in a Day" – 3:34
2. "In the Hands of the Gods" (Tumbleweed Gunslinger mix) – 4:15

Australian CD single^[7]

1. "Rome Wasn't Built in a Day" – 3:34
2. "In the Hands of the Gods" (Cheeky Cheeba Chainsaw mix) – 3:19
3. "Frogmarched to Freedom" – 4:59
4. "In the Hands of the Gods" (Tumbleweed Gunslinger mix) – 4:15
5. "Rome Wasn't Built in a Day" (enhanced video)

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the Fragments of Freedom album booklet.^[8]

Studio

• Recorded and mixed at Morcheeba Heads Quarter (South London, England)

Personnel

• Paul Godfrey – writing, production, mixing, arrangement
• Ross Godfrey – writing, production, mixing, arrangement
• Skye Edwards – writing, all vocals
• Derek Green – backing vocals, additional vocal production
• Paul Jason Fredericks – backing vocals
• Joy Rose – backing vocals
• Dee Lewis – backing vocals
• Steve Gordon – bass
• Dan Goldman – Fender Rhodes piano, Hammond C3 organ
• Martin Carling – drums
• Chris White – tenor and baritone saxophone
• Steve Sidwell – trumpet
• Steve Bentley-Klein – violin, string arrangement
• Pete Norris – production, mixing, arrangement

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2000)	Peak position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[9]	89
Poland (Nielsen Music Control)^[10]	1

Year-end charts

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)
Europe	3 July 2000	CD	WEA	^[12]
United Kingdom	24 July 2000		EastWest	^[13] ^[14]

Notes and References

1. Web site: U.K.'s Morcheeba Further Evolves. Billboard. Warner Music Australasia. 7 July 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20020113191350/http://www.warnermusic.com.au/artists/news.asp?action=read&newsid=695&artistid=566. 13 January 2002. 18 November 2023.
2. Web site: Remember Rome Wasn't Built in a Day in 2000? Interview with Morcheeba's Skye Edwards. Pingitore. Silvia. the-shortlisted.co.uk. 19 November 2020. 24 June 2023.
3. Rome Wasn't Built in a Day. Morcheeba. 2000. UK CD1 liner notes. EastWest Records. EW214CD1, 8573-83679-2.
4. Rome Wasn't Built in a Day. Morcheeba. 2000. UK cassette single sleeve. EastWest Records. EW214C.
5. Rome Wasn't Built in a Day. Morcheeba. 2000. UK CD2 liner notes. EastWest Records. EW214CD2.
6. Rome Wasn't Built in a Day. Morcheeba. 2000. European CD single liner notes. WEA. 8573-83997-2.
7. Rome Wasn't Built in a Day. Morcheeba. 2000. European CD single liner notes. WEA. 8573839602.
8. Fragments of Freedom. Fragments of Freedom. Morcheeba. 2000. UK CD album booklet. EastWest Records. 8573-84027-2.
9. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 17. 33. 11. 12 August 2000. 24 July 2020.
10. Web site: Nielsen Music Control. https://web.archive.org/web/20070512114805/http://www.pifpaf.com.pl/airplay/number1_2000.html. 12 May 2007.
11. Web site: End of Year Charts 2000. Recorded Music NZ. 24 July 2020.
12. Airborne – The pick of the week's new singles. Stavenes Dove. Siri. Music & Media. 17. 32. 10. 5 August 2000. 24 July 2020.
13. U.K.'s Morcheeba Further Evolves. Paoletta. Michael. Billboard. 112. 28. 16. 8 July 2000.
14. New Releases – For Week Starting July 24, 2000: Singles. Music Week. 25. 22 July 2000. 3 August 2021.