He was versatile enough to do folk songs, blues, covers of old-time Rock n' roll songs, and some original material, all of them in his own unique style. Rivers's greatest success came in the mid and late 1960s with a string of hit songs (including "Seventh Son," "Poor Side of Town" and "Secret Agent Man") but he has continued to record and perform to the present.
In 1960, Rivers met fellow Louisianan, James Burton, the guitar player for Ricky Nelson. Burton later recommended one of Rivers's songs to Nelson, who went on to record it. In 1961, Rivers went to Los Angeles to meet Nelson, and ended up relocating there, working as a song writer and studio musician. In 1963, Rivers's big break came when he temporarily filled in for a jazz combo at Bill Gazzari's night club; the temporary gig became long-term due to positive customer response.
In 1964, Elmer Valentine then gave Rivers a one-year contract to open his new club, Whisky a Go Go, on Sunset Strip in West Hollywood. The Whisky opened three days before The Beatles released "I Want To Hold Your Hand" and the British Invasion knocked almost every American artist off the top of the charts. But Rivers was so popular, producer Lou Adler decided to issue Johnny Rivers Live At The Whiskey A Go Go. The live album reached #12 on the charts and the single "Memphis" (a Chuck Berry cover) reached #2. Rivers made the successful transition from nightclub entertainer to chart-busting pop singer and had created the Go Go sound, part of a scene which included Go-Go dancers.
Into 1965, Rivers continued to record mostly live, Go Go style records including "Maybellene" (another Berry cover), which he followed "Mountain of Love", "Midnight Special", "Seventh Son" (written by Willie Dixon) e "Where Have All The Flowers Gone" (with Pete Seeger's), all of which were hits.
Rivers wanted to try something different and adopted a more idiosyncratic approach as from 1966. Characterized by his smooth, soulful voice, he produced hit portrayals as "Poor Side Of Town", which would be his biggest hit ever and his only number one record. Into another hit was "Secret Agent Man", the theme from Secret Agent television series (written by P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri). He also started own record company, Soul City Records, where he won a Grammy Award as the producer of the 5th Dimension, which eventually recorded "Aquarius/Let The Sun Shine In" and "Wedding Bell Blues", two number one hits on Rivers' label. Johnny is also credited with giving songwriter Jimmy Webb a major break when they recorded Webb's song "Up, Up, and Away". James Hendricks, one of the artists of that signed with Soul City, wrote "Summer Rain", a song that Rivers recorded and turned a hit.
Johnny Rivers continued to record more hits, including "Baby I Need Your Lovin'" and "The Tracks of My Tears" (cover of The Miracles), both top 10 in 1967. In 1968, Rivers released what many fans consider his best album, Realization, a number five album on the LP charts. The album was evocative of the psychedelic influences of the time and marked a subtle change in his musical direction, with more thoughtful types of songs, included such ballads as "Going Back to Big Sur".
In the 1970s, Rivers continued to record more songs and albums which were a success with music critics, but did not sell as well as some of his earlier hits. One of these albums, "L.A. Reggae" in 1972, reached the LP charts as a result of the top 10 "Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu" (a cover of Huey Smith & the Clowns). Anothers hits that time were "Blue Suede Shoes" (a cover of Carl Perkins), in 1973, which would reach the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, and "Help Me Rhonda", in 1975 - a cover of The Beach Boys on which Brian Wilson helped with backup vocals. His last entry on the charts was "Swayin' to the Music (Slow Dancing)", a top ten hit in 1977.
1980's until nowadays
Rivers continued recording into the '80's, although his recording career wound down somewhat. In spite of his music hasn't reached the best seller charts for quite a while, Rivers is still touring, doing 50 to 60 shows a year, increasingly returning to the blues that inspired him initially.
In 1998], Rivers reactivated his Soul City imprint and released Last Train to Memphis, his first new studio album in 15 years.
In early 2000, Johnny recorded with Eric Clapton, Tom Petty, and Paul McCartney on a tribute album dedicated to Buddy Holly's backup band, "The Crickets".
In all, Rivers had 9 top ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and 17 in the top 40 from 1964 to 1977. In total, he has sold well over 25 million records.
So Far Away
Johnny Rivers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 of Johnny Rivers' song "So Far Away" express a sense of longing and loneliness for someone who is physically distant. The singer reflects on the modern world's constant movement and lack of stability, wondering why nobody stays in one place anymore. The desire to see the person's face at the singer's door is a manifestation of the yearning for a connection and a sense of familiarity.
The lyrics convey a feeling of helplessness, as the singer acknowledges that knowing the person is just a matter of time away does not alleviate the deep longing they feel. The phrase "Long ago I reached for you and there you stood" reflects a past relationship or encounter, and the idea of holding the person again brings a sense of solace and happiness. However, the reality that they are so far away prevents the singer from fulfilling this desire.
In the second verse, the mention of "one more song about moving along the highway" implies that the singer is constantly on the move, possibly touring as a musician. This nomadic lifestyle leaves little room for stability and consistent connections. Despite the lack of new topics to discuss or experiences to share, there is a strong desire to orchestrate their life in a way that allows them to be close to the person they long for.
The lyrics convey the sadness and isolation that come with traveling and being distant from loved ones. The idea of closing one's mind due to the lack of anything else to do suggests a state of boredom and emotional detachment. The longing for dreams to come true and the hope that the road won't take ownership of their life hint at a yearning for a fulfilling and meaningful existence beyond constant movement.
In conclusion, "So Far Away" by Johnny Rivers is a heartfelt expression of the longing and loneliness experienced by someone who constantly travels while yearning for someone who is physically distant. The lyrics highlight the absence of stability in modern society and the deep desire for a connection that transcends physical distance. They also depict the challenges and emotional toll that come with a nomadic lifestyle, as well as the hopes for a life that allows for closeness and fulfillment.
Line by Line Meaning
So far away
I feel incredibly distant from you
Doesn't anybody stay in one place any more?
It seems like nobody stays in a single location for long anymore
It would be so fine to see your face at my door
It would bring me immense joy to have you physically present with me
And it doesn't help to know you're just time away
Knowing that you are only separated from me by time doesn't provide any comfort
Long ago I reached for you and there you stood
In the past, I tried to connect with you and you were there for me
Holding you again would only do me good
Reuniting with you would bring me emotional and mental well-being
Oh how I wish I could but you're so far away
I have a strong desire to be with you, but the distance between us makes it impossible
One more song about moving along the highway
Another song that discusses the constant travel on the road
I can't say much of anything that's new
I have nothing new or exciting to say
But if I could only work this life out my way
If I could navigate and arrange my life according to my own desires
I'd rather spend it being close to you
I would choose to spend my life in close proximity to you
Traveling around sure gets me down and lonely
Constantly moving from place to place brings me feelings of sadness and loneliness
Nothing else to do but close my mind
With no other options, I am left to shut out my thoughts and emotions
And I sure hope the road don't get to own me
I truly hope that the traveling lifestyle does not completely consume and define me
There's so many dreams that I've yet to find
There are numerous aspirations and goals that I have not yet discovered
So far away, yeah, you're so far away
You are incredibly distant from me, both physically and emotionally
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Carole King
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind