Hook (song)

This article is about the Blues Traveler song. For hooks in general, see Hook (music).

"Hook"
Single by Blues Traveler
from the album Four
Released	1995
Format	CD
Recorded	Summer 1994
Genre	Rock
Length	4:49
Label	A&M
Writer(s)	John Popper
Blues Traveler singles chronology
"Run-Around" (1995) "Hook" (1995) "The Mountains Win Again" (1995)

"Hook" is a song by jam band Blues Traveler, from their 1994 album Four. The song peaked at #23 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The song's title refers to a hook in music terminology: the catchy element or phrase of a song which makes it distinctive and memorable. The song's lyrics assert that whatever the singer sings about is effectively meaningless, since the song's musical hook will keep listeners coming back, even if they are unaware of the reason. In the introduction, John Popper sings, "It doesn't matter what I say / So long as I sing with inflection / That makes you feel that I'll convey / Some inner truth of vast reflection."

The song's own hook shares the chord structure of Pachelbel's Canon in D, which forms the basic chord progression of the song. The use of the Canon in D chord structure in combination with self-aware, meaningless lyrics are strong indications the song was intended as a protest of formulaic pop music.

The song also references the story of Peter Pan and his arch-nemesis Captain Hook (a second meaning to the title). In the song Popper also sings "no matter how much Peter loved her, what made the Pan refuse to grow, was that the Hook brings you back".

The music video for the song featured Paul Shaffer on keyboard.

Billboard Music Charts (North America)

Peak positions

• 1995 Mainstream Rock Tracks No. 15
• 1995 Modern Rock Tracks No. 13
• 1995 Top 40 Mainstream No. 29
• 1996 Adult Contemporary No. 28
• 1996 The Billboard Hot 100 No. 23
• 1996 Adult Top 40 No. 22
• 1996 Top 40 Mainstream No. 8

End of year charts

End of year chart (1996)	Position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	60