His most famous work is Alice's Restaurant, a talking blues song that lasts eighteen minutes and twenty seconds (in its original recorded version; Guthrie has been known to spin the story out to forty-five minutes in concert). The song, a bitingly satirical protest against the Vietnam War draft, is based on a true incident. In the song, Guthrie was called up for a draft examination, and rejected as unfit for military service as a result of a criminal record consisting in its entirety of a single arrest, court appearance, fine and clean-up order for littering. In reality, Guthrie, though a carrier of the genetically inherited disease Huntington's chorea, was classified as fit (1A); however, his draft-lottery number did not come up.
World Away From Me
Arlo Guthrie Lyrics
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I've been traveling with the sun
I've been singing all my life and getting by
Got to keep up with what's going on
In this place I've been so long
And I guess I'll just keep singing all my life
And it's so good to come home
Forgetting how sad loneliness can be
She will take me from this world
Then she'll gently take the world away from me
I'll be coming home at night
While the kids are sleeping tight
She'll be lit by firelight and looking fine
And the kids jump out of bed
Hello Daddy, what did you get
Did you think of anything on down the line
She'll be talking with her smile
Saying, honey, wait awhile
The kids have missed you, soon they'll be asleep
She will take me from this world
Then she'll gently take the world away from me
Oh the prophets and the sages
And the wise men through the ages
All that's written down on pages from above
Just can't adequately describe
What I'm feeling here inside
It's just useless to be living without love
And I'll take her by her hand
Just a woman and a man
Without trying to understand what we should be
She will take me from this world
Then she'll gently take the world away from me
The lyrics to Arlo Guthrie’s “World Away From Me” are about the experience of being on the road, performing, and coming home to the love of your family. Guthrie sings about how he’s been on the run, traveling with the sun, and singing his whole life, but always finding a way to keep up with what’s going on and how he’s getting by. He’s been in this place for so long, but he’ll just keep singing all his life.
It’s clear that Guthrie’s home is very important to him, and he finds it comforting to come home to his wife and children, who have been waiting for him. In this world, where he’s constantly on the move, a woman all alone will take him from this world, and while he’s with her, she’ll gently take the world away from him. This is a clear message about the sentiment of coming home to loved ones, who can offer peace, comfort, and a connection to the world outside.
Guthrie speaks of living without love being useless, and despite the wisdom of the ages and the sages, nothing can describe the feeling of being in love. He speaks of holding his wife’s hand, without trying to understand what they should be, just being themselves, that makes the moment meaningful. Overall, the song speaks to the importance of coming home, and finding meaning and peace in the little moments with loved ones.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been keeping on the run
I've been constantly moving and living a fast-paced life
I've been traveling with the sun
I've been traveling during the day, following the sun's path
I've been singing all my life and getting by
I've been relying on music to make a living and find happiness
Got to keep up with what's going on
I need to stay informed about current events and trends
In this place I've been so long
I've spent a lot of time in this particular location
And I guess I'll just keep singing all my life
I plan to keep using music as a means of expression and connection
And it's so good to come home
Returning home is a source of comfort and joy
To a woman all alone
My partner has been waiting for me
Forgetting how sad loneliness can be
Being away from my loved ones has caused me to forget the pain of loneliness
She will take me from this world
My partner has the ability to transport me away from the stresses and worries of life
Then she'll gently take the world away from me
She helps me forget about my problems by providing love and support
I'll be coming home at night
I'll return home in the evening
While the kids are sleeping tight
My children will be sound asleep
She'll be lit by firelight and looking fine
She will be illuminated by the warm glow of a fire and will look beautiful
And the kids jump out of bed
My children will be excited to see me
Hello Daddy, what did you get
My kids will be curious about any gifts or souvenirs I may have brought home
Did you think of anything on down the line
They'll inquire about any future plans or ideas I have
She'll be talking with her smile
My partner will be speaking with a happy expression on her face
Saying, honey, wait awhile
She'll ask me to be patient for a moment
The kids have missed you, soon they'll be asleep
She'll update me on how the kids are doing and when they'll be going to bed
Oh the prophets and the sages
Various historical and religious figures
And the wise men through the ages
Individuals renowned for their intelligence and wisdom throughout time
All that's written down on pages from above
Religious texts and other written sources
Just can't adequately describe
These sources are insufficient to capture
What I'm feeling here inside
My internal emotional state
It's just useless to be living without love
Living without love is meaningless and empty
And I'll take her by her hand
I'll hold my partner's hand
Just a woman and a man
We are simply two individuals in a loving partnership
Without trying to understand what we should be
We don't need to define our roles or relationship in order to be happy
She will take me from this world
My partner has the power to help me escape from any negativity or stress
Then she'll gently take the world away from me
She helps me focus on what's important in life and forget about any outside concerns
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ARLO GUTHRIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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