Cups

Anna Kendrick in the Cups music video

Though the song has been popular online for years, Anna Kendrick's version is easily the most well known. In the film Pitch Perfect, Anna Kendrick's character Beca Mitchell performs a shortened version of the song has her audition for joining The Barden Bellas. Unlike the soundtrack version, there are additional instruments in the single version, including a banjo. The single version is also expanded by a minute. Prior to the single's release, covers of the song went viral. Kendrick herself learned the song from online tutorials through Reddit, and so it was written into the film.

## Chart Performance

The song debuted at number 93 on the Billboard Hot 100 before the single's release. After its release, the song took 36 weeks climbing to the #6 spot. The song has been downloaded 2.5 million times in the United States alone. After the release of the Pitch Perfect DVD in Australia, in reappeared on the ARIA chart at #44.

## Music Video

The music video was directed by Pitch Perfect's director Jason Moore. As of October 2017, it has over 370 million views. It opens with Anna Kendrick working in a restaurant, cutting dough into biscuits while dreaming of far off locales. The video is shot in a continuous shot with Anna Kendrick gliding through the restaurant while cleaning up tables, as the entire restaurant participates in the song. However, it's later revealed it was a mere fantasy by Kendrick, and everything is back to normal. Kendrick smiles at her chef and sneaks out the back.

## Lyrics

I got my ticket for the long way ‘round
Two bottle ‘a whiskey for the way
And I sure would like some sweet company
And I’m leaving tomorrow, wha-do-ya say?

When I’m gone
When I’m gone
You’re gonna miss me when I’m gone
You’re gonna miss me by my hair
You’re gonna miss me everywhere, oh
You’re gonna miss me when I’m gone

I’ve got my ticket for the long way ‘round
The one with the prettiest of views
It’s got mountains, it’s got rivers, it’s got sights to give you shivers
But it sure would be prettier with you

When I’m gone
When I’m gone
You’re gonna miss me when I’m gone
You’re gonna miss me by my walk
You’re gonna miss me by my talk, oh
You’re gonna miss me when I’m gone

## Awards

* World Music Award for World's Best Song (2014, Nominated)
* Teen Choice Award for Choice Single: Female Artist (2013, Nominated)
* World Music Award for World's Best Video (2014, Nominated)

## Trivia

* This track from the *Pitch Perfect* soundtrack features the voice of Anna Kendrick accompanied only by a plastic cup, which she uses as improvised percussion.
* The song is just one minute seventeen seconds long, but isn't the

shortest ever to grace the Hot 100. The Womenfolk's version of "Little Boxes," which peaked at #83 in 1964, lasts a mere one minute and two seconds.

* The song debuted on the Hot 100 on the chart dated January 12, 2013. The

 same week the Barden Bellas' (including Kendrick) film-closing medley
"Bellas Finals.

* The origins of this song lie in the 1937 Appalachian folk recording "Miss Me When I'm Gone" by J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers.
* This song's success meant that Kendrick became only the second artist to

 have earned both a top 10 single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and
nominations in the two leading acting award ceremonies.

* The band played this song when Kendrick came on stage at the Oscars in 2014 to present the award for Best Editing.

1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vP1Z5tmww4