Though Ketchum first began recording in the mid-1980s, not until his 1991 record deal with Curb Records did he have a major hit with the album Past The Point Of Rescue. The title cut to the album was a Top 3 single, and other singles that met similar success included "Small Town Saturday Night" and "Sure Love".
In 1994 Ketchum toured Britain, issuing the single "Past The Point Of Rescue" on that side of the Atlantic. Though the single failed to make the UK Top 100 pop charts, it received extensive airplay on country radio. The album Every Little Word (of which the UK release featured a bonus disc of past US hits including "Past The Point...") made the Top 40 on the UK country charts and also did the same back in the US.
Ketchum continued to record and release new material. His final US releases were Father Time in 2008, and I'm the Troubadour in 2014.
His film credits included appearing in the 1988 film Heartbreak Hotel and a small role in the 1994 film Maverick.
Someplace Far Away
Hal Ketchum Lyrics
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It showed a line of wagons movin' someplace far away
That picture made my daddy smile, it made my Momma cry
It seems like Daddy's wagon load of dreams had long since passed her by
But the dream that makes the sparrow fly can make an eagle fall
And one that makes the rich man money, it ain't no dream at all
It's a cryin' shame to wake up just to find it's all been broke in two
Well he talked on all through supper time 'bout the good prospector's life
Couldn't see Momma didn't wanna be no good prospector's wife
He said, "We best sell out and go before the weather turns too cold
And maybe buy ourselves an extra horse to carry all the gold"
But the dream that makes the sparrow fly can make an eagle fall
And one that makes the rich man money, it ain't no dream at all
It's a cryin' shame to wake up just to find it's all been broke in two
Careful what you're dreamin', 'cause it someday may come true
And I got up as soon as the first light came to start the mornin' fire
Wonderin' if my Momma's will had cooled that man's desire
And inside that stove upon the coals, an ashen paper lay
It was a ghostly line of wagons, movin' someplace far away
And the dream that makes the sparrow fly can make an eagle fall
And one that makes the rich man money, it ain't no dream at all
It's a cryin' shame to wake up just to find it's all been broke in two
Careful what you're dreamin', 'cause it someday may come true
Oh, be careful what you're dreamin', 'cause it someday may come true
The song "Someplace Far Away" by Hal Ketchum is a story of a family's dreams and desires that are fueled by a photograph of wagons moving to someplace far away, which the singer's father brought home from the newspaper. The photograph brought a mixed reaction from the family; it made the father smile while it made the mother cry, as she felt his father's wagon load of dreams had already long passed her by.
The song suggests that dreams have the power to inspire and motivate individuals but can also lead to broken promises, unfulfilled expectations, and crushed hopes. The father's dreams of finding gold and living the prospector's life conflict with the mother's wish to lead a stable and settled life, without the uncertainty and danger that such dreams bring. The singer, on the other hand, learns a valuable lesson from this experience, that dreams can come true, but one has to be careful of what they wish for and the impact it may have on their loved ones.
Hal Ketchum uses simple language, imagery, and melody to tell the story of the familial conflict between the father's dreams and the mother's wishes. However, it reminds the listener that the dreams and desires we have do not only affect us, but they have a ripple effect on our loved ones. Therefore, one should be careful in pursuing their dreams and balancing it with their responsibilities and those they love.
Line by Line Meaning
My Daddy brought home a photograph from the paper yesterday
The singer's father brought home a photograph from the newspaper the previous day.
It showed a line of wagons movin' someplace far away
The photograph depicted a line of wagons moving to a distant location.
That picture made my daddy smile, it made my Momma cry
The photograph brought a different reaction in the singer's parents, with her dad smiling and her mom crying.
It seems like Daddy's wagon load of dreams had long since passed her by
The father's dream of traveling to a faraway place with a wagon had become unattainable for the mother.
But the dream that makes the sparrow fly can make an eagle fall
The idea of a dream being powerful enough to make a humble sparrow soar can also be potent enough to bring down a mighty eagle.
And one that makes the rich man money, it ain't no dream at all
The prospect of monetary gain is not a dream but a definite possibility for the wealthy.
It's a cryin' shame to wake up just to find it's all been broke in two
It is a regretful thing to wake up and realize that one's dream has been shattered.
Careful what you're dreamin', 'cause it someday may come true
One should be cautious about their dreams since they might be realized someday.
Well he talked on all through supper time 'bout the good prospector's life
The father talked about their dream of striking gold and living the good life as a prospector throughout supper.
Couldn't see Momma didn't wanna be no good prospector's wife
The father was unaware that the mother did not share his dream of being a prospector's wife.
He said, "We best sell out and go before the weather turns too cold
The father suggested selling their possessions and setting out to fulfill their dream before the weather got too cold.
And maybe buy ourselves an extra horse to carry all the gold"
He even thought of buying an additional horse to carry all the gold they hope to find.
And inside that stove upon the coals, an ashen paper lay
The singer found an ash-covered paper from the photograph in the stove.
It was a ghostly line of wagons, movin' someplace far away
The paper was a ghostly image of the wagons moving to their faraway destination.
Oh, be careful what you're dreamin', 'cause it someday may come true
The song ends with the same warning about being careful with one's dreams since they might become a reality someday.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: HAL KETCHUM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind