Belden was born in Evanston, Illinois, and raised in South Carolina. In his formative years, Belden studied saxophone with Lou Marini Sr., father of famed jazz saxophonist, Lou Marini (Buddy Rich Big Band, Blood, Sweat and Tears, best known as "Blue Lou" of the Blues Brothers Band). Belden attended the University of North Texas and was a member of the famed One O'Clock Lab Band.
Belden's works as arranger and composer show an extremely wide ranging versatility, often being compared to the works of Gil Evans and Maria Schneider. In 2008 he arranged and produced Miles from India, a world fusion music record, based on the compositions of Miles Davis. In the record he assembled alumni of Davis and musicians of India
So Far Away
Bob Belden Lyrics
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Doesn't anybody stay in one place any more?
It would be so fine to see your face at my door
And it doesn't help to know you're just time away
Long ago I reached for you and there you stood
Holding you again would only do me good
Oh how I wish I could but you're so far away
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 being close to you
But you're so far away
Doesn't anybody stay in one place any more?
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
Traveling around sure gets me down and lonely
Nothing else to do but close my mind
And I sure hope the road don't get to own me
There's so many dreams that I've yet to find
But you're so far away
Doesn't anybody stay in one place any more?
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
The lyrics to Bob Belden's song "So Far Away" convey a sense of longing and isolation. The singer expresses a desire to see a loved one's face once again, but they are so far away that it feels like they are just a memory. The verses suggest that the singer is a traveler, constantly on the move and feeling the effects of this on their emotional state. There is a sense of frustration in the first two lines, as if the singer is struggling to come to terms with the way the world works now. They long for stability, for someone to stay in one place.
The song's chorus reinforces this sense of isolation, repeating the line "you're so far away." The singer is aware that this person is just a time away from them, but it doesn't make the distance feel any less consequential. They hold onto memories of the past, wishing that they could recapture that time when this person was close to them.
The bridge of the song is more upbeat, suggesting that the singer is trying to find a way to cope with their situation. They express a desire to "work this life out my way," but ultimately admit that they would rather be close to the person they miss. The song ends with a final repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the singer's sense of loneliness and longing.
Some possible interpretations of the song could include themes of travel, transience, and the search for meaning in a rapidly changing world. The lyrics convey a sense of nostalgia for the past, but without fully idealizing it. The singer acknowledges the difficulties of that time and recognizes that things are different now, but they still long for the sense of connection that they once had.
Line by Line Meaning
So far away
Expressing the distance between the singer and someone they long to see
Doesn't anybody stay in one place any more?
Wondering why people seem to move around so much and not stay in one location
It would be so fine to see your face at my door
Expressing the desire to have the person they miss physically present with them
And it doesn't help to know you're just time away
Acknowledging that the knowledge that the person they miss will return eventually does not make the longing any less painful
Long ago I reached for you and there you stood
Reflecting on a past encounter with the person they miss and reminiscing the happiness they felt at that time
Holding you again would only do me good
Expressing the belief that being with the person they miss would improve their emotional wellbeing
Oh how I wish I could but you're so far away
Acknowledging the impossibility of being with the person they miss due to the distance between them
One more song about moving along the highway
Indicating that the singer has sung numerous songs about traveling and being away from home
I can't say much of anything that's new
Acknowledging a lack of originality or lack of fresh perspective in the lyrics of the song
But if I could only work this life out my way
Expressing the desire for control over their own life and be with the person they miss
I'd rather spend it being close to you
The ultimate goal the singer wants to achieve in life, which is to be with the person they miss
Traveling around sure gets me down and lonely
Expressing the negative emotions one experiences while traveling and being away from loved ones
Nothing else to do but close my mind
Indicating that the singer resorts to shutting their thoughts and emotions off to cope with loneliness
And I sure hope the road don't get to own me
Expressing the fear of losing oneself to the constant traveling lifestyle and not being able to return home
There's so many dreams that I've yet to find
Expressing the hope and excitement for all the adventures and experiences that lie ahead during the traveling journey
So far away, yeah, you're so far away
Reiterating the separation from the person they miss and the emotional pain associated with it
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Carole King
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind