Carl was born in Salina, Oklahoma April 21, 1931. In the mid fifties he won… Read Full Bio ↴Carl was born in Salina, Oklahoma April 21, 1931. In the mid fifties he won an amateur contest in Pasadena, California which led to a recording contract with Decca Records and started singing professionally. He was on the Louisiana Hayride for a while, then in 1959 moved to Nashville to appear on the Grand Ole Opry.

This bio is a short summary of the album liner written by Ralph Emery for Carl's self titled album "Carl Belew", Decca # DL74074.

Just Out of Reach
Carl Belew Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Love that runs away from me dreams that just won't let me be
Blues that keep on bothering me chains that just won't set me free
Too far away from you and all your charms just out
of reach of my two empty arms

Each night in dreams I see your face mem'ries time cannot erase
Then I awake and find you gone I'm so blue and all alone
So far away from lips so sweet and warm just out of

reach of my two empty arms

That lonesome feeling all the time knowing you cannot be mine
Dreams that hurt me in my sleep vows that we could never keep

So far away from lips so sweet and warm just out of
reach of my two empty arms

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Carl Belew's song "Just Out of Reach" speak of the pain and heartbreak of unrequited love. The singer laments that the love he craves is always just out of reach, as if held at arm's length from him. He dreams of the object of his affection, but when he awakens, he finds himself alone and filled with sadness. The lyrics speak to the uncertainty of love and the frustration that comes with it.

The opening lines, "Love that runs away from me, dreams that just won't let me be," set the tone for the rest of the song. The singer is haunted by love that he cannot have, and the dreams that keep him up at night only serve to make him feel more alone. He describes the feelings of being bound by chains and unable to break free from the torment of his unattainable love.

The chorus drives home the pain of this situation as he portrays himself as too far away from his love, out of reach of her charms, and with two empty arms. The lyrics are simple and straightforward but carry a universal emotional power that speaks to anyone who has ever been in love that remained unreturned.

Line by Line Meaning

Love that runs away from me dreams that just won't let me be
The singer wishes to be in love with someone who reciprocates but instead has a love that constantly eludes them, leaving them with persistent unfulfilled desires.

Blues that keep on bothering me chains that just won't set me free
The singer's heartache and longing for the unattainable love is causing them to feel trapped in a cycle of sadness and despair.

Too far away from you and all your charms just out of reach of my two empty arms
The object of the singer's affection is geographically or emotionally distant, leaving them unable to fulfill their longing for this person's company and affection.

Each night in dreams I see your face mem'ries time cannot erase
The artist may have cherished moments with this person, but despite the pain and heartache, they cannot shake the thoughts and dreams that keep the memory of them alive.

Then I awake and find you gone I'm so blue and all alone
The artist's longing leaves them feeling lonely, especially when they realize that what they desire to be real is just a figment of their imagination.

That lonesome feeling all the time knowing you cannot be mine
The singer is aware that this love cannot be reciprocated, leaving them with a deep sense of sadness and loneliness at all times.

Dreams that hurt me in my sleep vows that we could never keep
Despite the pain, the singer cannot help but dream of a life with this person, even though they know that it can never be. The promises and commitments made in these dreams only serve to deepen their pain and hopelessness.

So far away from lips so sweet and warm just out of reach of my two empty arms
The distance or emotional unavailability of the object of the artist's love is like a physical barrier, preventing them from having what they so desperately crave.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Virgil Stewart

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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