"The Never-Ending Why" is the second official single

Single (music)

In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...

 from Placebo

Placebo (band)

Placebo are a British rock band from London, England, formed in 1994 by singer and guitarist Brian Molko and bass guitarist Stefan Olsdal. The band was joined by drummer Robert Schultzberg, who was later replaced by Steve Hewitt after conflicts with Molko. Hewitt left the band in October 2007 and...

's sixth studio album, Battle for the Sun

Battle for the Sun

Battle for the Sun is the sixth studio album by British alternative rock band Placebo, released in 2009 on Solitary Man Records, Vagrant Records, Universal Records, and PIAS Recordings.-Production and recording:...

.

The release date of September 7 was revealed by frontman Brian Molko in an interview on XFM

Xfm

Xfm is a brand of two commercial radio stations focused on alternative music, primarily indie pop, and owned by Global Radio.-History:Xfm was created in London in 1992 by Sammy Jacob, who later co-founded NME Radio in 2008. Xfm subsequently expanded to a network of four stations; there are...

. Molko has stated that "It's a very spiritual song. It's kind of Eastern in its philosophy. It's about the questions that will never be answered. Anyone who has an interest in the meaning of life will come up against a brick wall, but you must accept the fact that there will be no answers and try and get the best out of now."

The single was later confirmed on the band's official site. The release date was changed to September 14, 2009. While "The Never-Ending Why" will be released on the United Kingdom

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 and Norway

Norway

Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...

, "Ashtray Heart

Ashtray Heart

"Ashtray Heart" is the third official single from Placebo's sixth studio album, Battle for the Sun. It was released in all of Europe, except for the United Kingdom and Norway, while "The Never-Ending Why" was released in these countries a week before, on September 14, 2009.The B-side song "Fuck U"...

" will also be released as a single on the remaining countries of Europe

Europe

Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...

.

Track listing

Limited edition 7" picture disc

1. "The Never-Ending Why"
2. "Hardly Wait" (PJ Harvey
   PJ Harvey
   Polly Jean Harvey is an English musician, singer-songwriter, composer and occasional artist. Primarily known as a vocalist and guitarist, she is also proficient with a wide range of instruments including piano, organ, bass, saxophone, and most recently, the autoharp.Harvey began her career in...
   
    cover)

3 track digital download

1. "The Never-Ending Why"
2. "Hardly Wait" (PJ Harvey
   PJ Harvey
   Polly Jean Harvey is an English musician, singer-songwriter, composer and occasional artist. Primarily known as a vocalist and guitarist, she is also proficient with a wide range of instruments including piano, organ, bass, saxophone, and most recently, the autoharp.Harvey began her career in...
   
    cover)
3. "For What It's Worth" (Mistabishi remix)

iTunes digital download

1. "The Never-Ending Why"
2. "Hardly Wait" (PJ Harvey
   PJ Harvey
   Polly Jean Harvey is an English musician, singer-songwriter, composer and occasional artist. Primarily known as a vocalist and guitarist, she is also proficient with a wide range of instruments including piano, organ, bass, saxophone, and most recently, the autoharp.Harvey began her career in...
   
   cover)
3. "For What It's Worth" (Mistabishi remix)
4. "The Never-Ending Why" (video)

Live at the O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire - digital download

1. "The Never-Ending Why"
2. "The Never-Ending Why" (Live at the O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire)
3. "Happy You're Gone" (Live at the O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire)
4. "Speak in Tongues" (Live at the O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire)