The Space Between

"The Space Between"
Artwork for German and Australian retail releases
Single by Dave Matthews Band
from the album Everyday
ReleasedApril 16, 2001 (2001-04-16)
Length
  • 4:02 (album version)
  • 3:34 (radio edit)
LabelRCA
Songwriters
ProducerGlen Ballard
Dave Matthews Band singles chronology
"I Did It"
(2001)		 "The Space Between"
(2001)		 "Everyday"
(2001)
Audio
"The Space Between" on YouTube

"The Space Between" is a song written by American rock band Dave Matthews Band from their fourth studio album, Everyday (2001). Released as a single in April 2001, it gave the band their first top-40 hit in their home country, peaking at number 22 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the United Kingdom, it became the band's only top-40 hit when it reached number 36 on the UK Singles Chart. "The Space Between" is also included on the Dave Matthews Band compilation album The Best of What's Around Vol. 1.

Composition

The song was written by Dave Matthews and Glen Ballard. Ballard interpreted the lyrics as "an apology" to a loved one; "It’s telling the person who is most vivid in your life, whenever we’ve been apart, I want to make sure that we’re back together."

Music video

The music video, directed by Dave Meyers, was filmed on Lake Pickett surrounded by CGI factories and power plants near Orlando, Florida.[citation needed] The video features Matthews and the band playing the song on the dock of the pond. It also features scenes depicting an old man in a boat, a mother walking through the pond while holding her baby, and a young couple sitting in the back of a pickup truck. As the video progresses, it begins to rain on the band and the unnamed characters; the band plays on, the old man removes rainwater from his boat with a cup, the mother shields her baby from the rain, and the young couple covers themselves with a blanket. In the final scene, the rain stops and Matthews is singing alone on the dock. A woman approaches, and Matthews walks off with her.

Live performances

"The Space Between" was performed live on Saturday Night Live on February 24, 2001.

Track listings

Australian single

  1. "The Space Between" (remix) – 3:34
  2. "The Space Between" – 4:02
  3. "What You Are" – 4:33

UK CD1 single

  1. "The Space Between" (album edit) – 4:02
  2. "Fool to Think" – 4:13
  3. "The Space Between" (video) – 3:38

UK CD2 single

  1. "The Space Between" (radio edit) – 3:34
  2. "What You Are" – 3:48
  3. "I Did It" (video) – 3:38

Charts

Release history

Release dates and formats for "The Space Between"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States April 16, 2001 Adult alternative radio RCA
April 17, 2001 Alternative radio
June 5, 2001 Contemporary hit radio
Australia September 3, 2001 CD
United Kingdom November 19, 2001

References

  1. ↑ Songfacts. "Glen Ballard : Songwriter Interviews". www.songfacts.com. Retrieved 2026-07-18.
  2. ↑ Beviglia, Jim (2024-02-17). "The Meaning Behind "The Space Between" by the Dave Matthews Band—and What Led to its Creation". American Songwriter. Retrieved 2026-07-18.
  3. ↑ Navaroli, Joel. "SNL Archives | Episodes | 02.24.2001 #12". SNL Archives. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  4. ↑ "The ARIA Report, Issue 602". ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Tipparade-lijst van week 8, 2002" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Dave Matthews Band – The Space Between" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  7. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart on 25/11/2001 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Dave Matthews Band Songs and Albums | Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Dave Matthews Band Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  10. ↑ "Dave Matthews Band Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Dave Matthews Band Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Dave Matthews Band Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Dave Matthews Band Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  14. ↑ "BDS CHART : Top 100 of 2001". Jam!. Archived from the original on July 26, 2002. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Billboard Top 100 – 2001". billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  16. ↑ "The Year in Music 2001: Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 52. December 29, 2001. p. YE-82.
  17. ↑ "Most-Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 2001". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 9, no. 51. December 21, 2001. p. 60.
  18. ↑ "Most-Played Modern Rock Songs of 2001". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 9, no. 51. December 21, 2001. p. 40.
  19. ↑ "America's Best: 2001 – Most-Played Triple-A Songs". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 9, no. 51. December 21, 2001. p. 45.
  20. ↑ "Most-Played Adult Top 40 Songs of 2002". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 10, no. 51. December 20, 2002. p. 16.
  21. ↑ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1397. April 13, 2001. pp. 112, 121.
  22. ↑ "CHR/Pop: Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1404. June 1, 2001. p. 44.
  23. ↑ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 3rd September 2001" (PDF). ARIA. September 3, 2001. p. 25. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 24, 2015. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  24. ↑ "New Release Countdown: Singles". Music Week. November 17, 2001. p. 31.