Call and Answer

"Call and Answer"
Single by Barenaked Ladies
from the album Stunt
ReleasedJuly 13, 1999
Length
  • 5:48 (album)
  • 4:09 (radio mix)
LabelReprise
Songwriter(s)
  • Steven Page
  • Stephen Duffy
Producer(s)
Barenaked Ladies singles chronology
"It's All Been Done"
(1998)
"Call and Answer"
(1999)
"Get in Line"
(1999)
Music video
"Call and Answer" on YouTube

"Call and Answer" is a song by Canadian musical group Barenaked Ladies. It was the third single from their 1998 album Stunt. For its release, the song was both remixed and edited into a radio mix that cut from the second verse to the third chorus, skipping a chorus, an instrumental break and the third verse. The remix was a slight adjustment of EQ and levels; not a comprehensive remix involving adding or replacing musical elements. This version was also included on the soundtrack for the film EdTV.

The song was written by Steven Page and his longtime collaborator, Stephen Duffy. All of the vocals in the song are performed by Page; this includes overlapping vocals, harmonies and octaves, and a call-and-response chorus. This, in addition to a long ad-lib outro makes the song a showcase of Page's vocal abilities. In live performances, the backing vocals were performed by bandmates Ed Robertson and Jim Creeggan. The song seems to be about the reconciliation of a tumultuous relationship.

The song was performed on CBC Radio as a tribute to Peter Gzowski on his death in 2002. It was also performed as a duet with Alanis Morissette in 2004 during the co-headlining Au Naturale Tour.