♫ So Far Away ♫

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Carole King scored another hit with this single, where she bemoans the fact that she and the man she loves can’t be together, and mentions that people in general were becoming more disconnected from each other. It was the fourth single from her famous Tapestry album, which sold over 11 million copies. King wrote or co-wrote all the songs on the album, ushering in the singer/songwriter genre.

Lou Adler, who produced Tapestry and owned Carole King’s record company, said:

“‘So Far Away’ is my favorite song on Tapestry. I use the phrase a lot, ‘Doesn’t anybody stay in one place anymore?’ It’s the road, it’s the people traveling. It just seems to me an anthem of that particular time and so well written and one of the earlier songs she wrote for this album.”

Seth Swirsky, who was a staff songwriter for Chappell Music in ’80s and ’90s before recording his own material as a solo artist, cites Tapestry as an album that record companies would shy away from today, as King would not be considered marketable …

“She needed to get her own thing going. And it turned out to be an album that hit everybody, what they were thinking and feeling, right at that moment. America in the ’60s, everybody was moving away to San Francisco, and flowers in their hair, and it was tumultuous. But here it was a Tapestry of home again.”

And by the way … in case you’re wondering who that is on the acoustic guitar, it’s my favourite, James Taylor!

So Far Away
James Taylor, Carole King

So far away
Doesn’t anybody stay in one place anymore?
It would be so fine to see your face at my door
And it doesn’t help to know that you’re just time away

Long ago, I reached for you and there you stood
Holding you again could only do me good
Oh, how I wish I could
But you’re so far away, yeah

One more song about movin’ along the highway
I can’t say much of anything that’s new
But if I could only work this life out my way
I’d rather spend it bein’ close to you

But you’re so far away
Doesn’t anybody stay in one place anymore?
It would be so fine to see your face at my door
And it doesn’t help to know, you’re so far away

So far away
Yeah, you’re so far away
Oh yeah yeah yeah

Travelin’ around sure gets me down and lonely
Nothin’ else to do but close my mind
I sure hope the road don’t get to own me
There’s so many dreams I’ve yet to find, I’ve yet to find

Oh, but you’re so far away
Doesn’t anybody stay in one place anymore?
It would be so fine to see your face at my door
Doesn’t help to know you’re so far away

You’re so far away
Oh, you’re so far away

Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Carole King

20 thoughts on “♫ So Far Away ♫”

  2. Pingback: ♫ So Far Away ♫ | The Inglorius Padre Steve's World

  8. Love this song…so many good ones back in the day.
    It makes me sad to think of today’s music compared to the late 60s/70s and the awakening of the social justice movement and civil rights and equality for all beliefs. How did we lose all that! What the hell happened!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • I completely agree with you!!! But then … I remember when I was a teen and into such groups as the Beatles, Rolling Stones, etc., and my parents said the exact same things about my music that we say about today’s music. Apparently most music doesn’t find its way across generational barriers? I haven’t heard music I liked on the radio for probably 20 years now … maybe longer. Luckily, I can pick and choose what I listen to, most of it coming from the 50s, 60s, and 70s.

      Liked by 1 person

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