Witmer has released a number of albums (including Recovered), some EPs, and an LP with his side project, The River Bends, in which Witmer plays guitar and sings along with a backup band including members of Philly-based alt-country band One Star Hotel. His 2005 album, Are You A Dreamer?, was produced by mentor Don Peris of The Innocence Mission and featured Asthmatic Kitty artist Sufjan Stevens. It gained rave reviews by such opposite ends of the spectrum as Pitchfork Media and Entertainment Weekly.
Subsequent albums have included "Carry the Weight" (2008), "The Ones Who Wait" (2012), and "Denison Witmer" (2013).
His official website is located at http://www.denisonwitmer.com.
So Far Away
Denison Witmer 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 Denison Witmer's "So Far Away" reflect a sense of longing and displacement that many people can relate to. The song opens with the question "Doesn't anybody stay in one place anymore?", suggesting a feeling of disconnection and rootlessness. The singer expresses a desire to see someone special, to have them close at hand, but acknowledges that they are "so far away". Despite having reached out to this person before and finding solace in their presence, the distance between them makes it impossible to reconnect.
As the song progresses, the singer reflects on the weariness that comes from constant travel ("Traveling around sure gets me down and lonely"). There is a sense of frustration and resignation in lines like "I can't say much of anything that's new" and "nothing else to do but close my mind", as if the singer is trapped in a cycle of movement without purpose. The repeated refrain of "you're so far away" underscores the persistent feeling of separation and the desire to be reunited with the person in question.
Overall, "So Far Away" is a poignant reflection on the human need for connection and the pain of distance. The song captures a sense of restlessness and longing that will resonate with many listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
So far away
Expressing the distance between two people who are apart from each other.
Doesn't anybody stay in one place any more?
Asking if people still have a sense of stability and permanence in life.
It would be so fine to see your face at my door
Expressing the desire to be close to the person and see them.
And it doesn't help to know you're just time away
Saying that even though they will be reunited in the future, the distance is still hard to bear.
Long ago I reached for you and there you stood
Recalling past moments where the two were together.
Holding you again would only do me good
Expressing that being physically close to the person would make them feel happy and comforted.
Oh how I wish I could but you're so far away
Desiring to be with the person but recognizing the distance that separates them.
One more song about moving along the highway
Introducing the theme of the song, which is about traveling and being apart from a loved one.
I can't say much of anything that's new
Acknowledging that the topic of being apart from a loved one has been explored in many songs before.
But if I could only work this life out my way
Expressing the desire to have more control over their life and circumstances.
I'd rather spend it being close to you
Stating that being together with the person they love is more important than anything else.
Traveling around sure gets me down and lonely
Expressing the negative emotions that come with being away from a loved one.
Nothing else to do but close my mind
Saying that there is nothing they can do to change the situation, so they try to block it out of their mind.
And I sure hope the road don't get to own me
Expressing the fear that their constant traveling may start to take over their life and make it difficult to return home.
There's so many dreams that I've yet to find
Expressing the hope and excitement for all the things they have yet to experience and discover in life.
So far away, yeah, you're so far away
Repeating the opening line of the song to emphasize the distance between the two people.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Carole King
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind