After signing a contract with the Atlantic Records label Lava Records in 1994, his first major-label album, Honor Among Thieves, was issued in 1995. His second album, Misguided Roses, spawned I'll Be, a major single in 1998. Two more albums (Messenger and Far from Over) followed, but at the end of 2001, he split from Lava. In 2003 he released a collection of acoustic versions of songs both old and new called The Austin Sessions via ATC Records, a Nashville-based independent record label (at which McCain was the first artist signed following its creation in 2001). Mid-2004 saw the arrival of his first studio album in three years, entitled Scream & Whisper, which was released on another indie label, DRT Entertainment.
He has released two DVDs to date. The first was through ATC records in late 2002, called Mile Marker: Songs and Stories from the Acoustic Highway, and it consisted of interviews, live performances, and other material. The other was in late 2004, Tinsel & Tap Shoes. It was his first live concert DVD, recorded at The House of Blues in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
A new CD was released in April, 2006 titled, Lost in America. Edwin recently signed a contract with Vanguard Records. This album (#8) is said to be a true "rock 'n roll" collection.
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Far from Over
Edwin McCain Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The highway shimmering with stars
The knowing glances of the runaways
That never made it this far
I can't believe she said that we can work it out
I thought that we were near the end
Gone are the days
This is far from over my friend
My lover's name is music
Well she's held my heart so long
Tethered and pulling at the chains of disregard
What if all of this is wrong
I can't believe she said that we can work it out
I thought that we were near the end
Gone are the days
All the trouble and the doubt
This is far from over my friend
And we throw our prayers up skyward
Hoping anyone will hear
From Storyville to Broadway
This soul won't disappear
Well I heard that boy in Memphis
Playing memories and dreams
The ghosts of miracles played upon the stage
And then vanishing like steam
I can't believe she said that we can work it out
I thought that we were near the end
Gone are the days
All the trouble and the doubt
This is far from over my friend
The song "Far from Over" by Edwin McCain opens with the singer contemplating his life and the highway before him, shimmering with stars. He mentions runaways who never made it as far as he did and "knowing glances" that signify a shared understanding of the difficulty of life. The singer then reflects on his relationship with his lover, who he calls "music." He questions whether their connection is as strong as it once was and whether he has been hurt by his disregard for her.
The chorus reveals that the singer's lover believes they can work things out, though he thought their relationship was near the end. The singer then talks about throwing prayers up skyward, hoping for any kind of response. He mentions Memphis, where he heard a boy playing music that reminds him of his own memories and dreams. Lastly, the singer reinforces the chorus, stating that he believes their story is "far from over."
Overall, the song touches on themes of perseverance, faith, and the search for meaning in life. Through his relationship with music and his musings on the highway and the people who have come before him, Edwin McCain constructs a narrative about the many paths we can take in life and the importance of never giving up on our passions.
Line by Line Meaning
Well this life's stretched out before me
The singer feels as though their life is long and will bring new and difficult challenges.
The highway shimmering with stars
The singer is observing a beautiful scene.
The knowing glances of the runaways
The singer has noticed the looks shared by those who have left home.
That never made it this far
The artist has surpassed those who once planned to leave, but never followed through with their plans.
I can't believe she said that we can work it out
The artist is surprised that their partner still has hope for their relationship.
I thought that we were near the end
The singer believed that they were close to the end of their relationship.
Gone are the days
The singer is expressing relief that the past issues in their relationship are now gone.
All the trouble and the doubt
The artist is referring to the problems they have faced in their relationship.
This is far from over my friend
Despite the artist's previous beliefs, they are acknowledging that their relationship is not yet over.
My lover's name is music
The artist feels a strong connection to music.
Well she's held my heart so long
Music has been a constant companion for the singer throughout their life.
Tethered and pulling at the chains of disregard
Despite the importance of music to the artist, they feel as though they have neglected it in some way.
What if all of this is wrong
The singer is questioning their current path in life and whether or not they have made the right choices.
And we throw our prayers up skyward
The singer and others are hoping for something better in their lives.
Hoping anyone will hear
The singer is expressing a desire for someone, anyone, to listen to their pleas.
From Storyville to Broadway
The artist is referencing the different venues where music can be heard.
This soul won't disappear
Despite the challenges and doubts in life, the artist knows that they will endure.
Well I heard that boy in Memphis
The singer is recalling an experience they had in Memphis, possibly listening to a musician.
Playing memories and dreams
The music the singer heard in Memphis was evocative of past memories and hopes for the future.
The ghosts of miracles played upon the stage
The artist feels as though the music performed was larger than life and transformative.
And then vanishing like steam
The power of the music, while strong, is fleeting and ultimately temporary.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: EDWIN COLE MC CAIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind