A dozen years after the release of their original "Trio" album, the country music supergroup returned with another in the same vein. It sold more copies than any of the three women's recent solo releases, and was nominated for a Grammy.
Farther Along
Dolly Parton Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
While there are others living about us, never molested, though in the wrong
When death has come and taken our loved ones, it leaves our home so lonely and dreary
Then do we wonder why others prosper living so wicked year after year
Farther along we'll know all about it; farther along we'll understand why
Cheer up, my brother; live in the sunshine, we'll understand it all by and by
Faithful till death said our loving master; a few more days to labor and wait
Toils of the road will then seem as nothing as we sweep through the beautiful gates
Yes, we'll understand it all by and by
The lyrics of Farther Along by Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Emmylou Harris express the universal experience of feeling tempted and tried by the troubles of the world. The first verse acknowledges the frustration of watching others who seem to be living easy lives despite their wrongdoing while good-hearted people suffer. The second verse reflects on the grief of losing loved ones and the confusion of why wicked people prosper while good people suffer. The chorus "Farther along we'll know all about it; farther along we'll understand why" offers hope that there is a purpose and a plan for the trials we face in life. The song encourages us to be faithful and live in the sunshine even in the midst of life's difficulties, knowing that someday we will understand it all.
Line by Line Meaning
Tempted and tried we're oft made to wonder why it should be thus all the day long
We are constantly tempted and tested, making us question why we face these challenges every day
While there are others living about us, never molested, though in the wrong
We observe others who seem to live without consequence, even though they do wrong
When death has come and taken our loved ones, it leaves our home so lonely and dreary
The loss of loved ones brings sadness and emptiness to our home
Then do we wonder why others prosper living so wicked year after year
We then ask ourselves why those who live immorally continue to prosper year after year
Farther along we'll know all about it; farther along we'll understand why
In time, we will gain the understanding we seek and all will become clear
Cheer up, my brother; live in the sunshine, we'll understand it all by and by
We should remain optimistic and live happily, as we will eventually gain understanding
Faithful till death said our loving master; a few more days to labor and wait
Our loving leader encourages us to remain faithful until death and to continue working and waiting
Toils of the road will then seem as nothing as we sweep through the beautiful gates
Once we reach our destination, the struggles of the journey will be insignificant
Farther along we'll know all about it...
We will eventually understand everything we have been questioning
Yes, we'll understand it all by and by
We will surely gain understanding in time
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: W B. Stevens
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@fredupchurch4925
After the first 15+ times I listened to this when the album was released, I had what I thought was a good understanding of the display of the voices, production values, and arrangements here. I saw that the album was 'good. The inspiration and craft was obvious. I and others liked it and played it often. Time passed. Everything changed as it always does. I passed my musical attention to other things.
Many years later, I hear and understand music differently. A lifetime of playing and loving music has passed since those times when I first heard this piece. I appreciate this music and its' inspiration far more now than I did then. Time passes, as it must; and we ourselves change.
This means, for me, that I now hear this with different ears that hear far more now than I did back then. The components of the music have not changed. Now, years later, I can hear that there was much, much more going on!
All this is to say that this portrayal of music offers the listener vastly different levels of involvement. The genius here is that every track stands on its' own for a casual listener. The basic lines are easily understood. But at the same time, very complex musical ideas are also there. Both the simple and the complex co-exist without interfering or contradicting each other.
This is very exceptional artistry. Further, deponent sayeth not.
@billfindon8968
The lyrics to the song were written in 1911 by Rev. W. A. Fletcher, an
itinerant preacher, while he was traveling to the Indian Territories by
train. Fletcher was feeling depressed because his wife was expecting
their first-born child in a few weeks and he wouldn't be present for the
occasion. He felt that his priorities were with his ministry in the
Indian Territories and wrote the lyrics to reflect his frame of mind at
the time. Sitting next to him on the train was J. R. Baxter, a gospel
music promoter who was quite taken with the lyrics that Fletcher was
writing and offered him $2.00 for them. Mr. Baxter subsequently had them
put to music and the song has been quite popular in the gospel music
arena ever since.
The song deals with a Christian's dismay at the
apparent prosperity of the wicked, when contrasted with the suffering of
the righteous. The repeated theme is that, in Heaven, the truth will be
revealed.
@elmuanhangzo8919
Farther along, in His grace, will I understand it all, all in His good time.
@darlingtonekabaghe7695
Rev Fletcher was God given wisdom to write this .Glory .it makes me cry when l hear this song.
@rhondaboncutter5812
People, take a breath and look at the news, all the unrest here in our Country and around the world! Take God into your heart, be ready! God Bless us all!
@rhondaboncutter5812
Recently, so much unrest, I am so worried about what is gonna happen to our world! God Bless us and keep us all safe! Jesus Name , Amen!
@kathleenmccarthy9828
Here I am 7 yrs later singing this song at my cousins funeral who dies at 45yrs old…rest in peace amber jolley.
@rhondaboncutter5812
Amen!
@CastleMr40
I did not know D. Parton wrote this beautiful song. The day Elvis died, I got out my Elvis record collection and began playing it from beginning to end. I found this song on one of Elvis' albums. I had never played it before. It was the perfect song for the day Elvis died. I took it to the radio station where I worked and had the deejay pay it the next morning.
@katsview928
Dolly Parton did not write this song....It was written in 1911 by Reverend W.A. Fletcher while traveling on a train through Indian territories. Even though he was feeling depressed because his wife was expecting their first child and he wasn't going to be there for the birth. He still felt that his priorities were with his ministry and wrote these lyrics to reflect his frame of mind at the time. A gospel music prompter, J.R. Baxter, happened to be sitting beside him on the train, and loved the lyrics...he subsequently offered him $2.00 for them, had them put to music, and as they say.......the rest is history
@fukeungchan2280
Great Trios song brings back remember memories of my beautiful wife forever love always tears from heart xxxxxxxxxx
@eliseerudahigwaofficial4876
God bless your family for this legacy!