She is acknowledged as one of the most important blues artists of her generation.
Webster was initially best known as a session musician behind Louisiana musicians on the Excello and Goldband record labels, such as Lightnin' Slim and Lonesome Sundown. She also played piano with Otis Redding in the 1960s, but after his death, went into semi-retirement. During her career, she was duet partner to many stars, among them B. B. King, Robert Cray and Rockin' Sidney. Her long professional relationship with the Alligator Records label is also worthy of noting.
In the 1980s, she was repeatedly booked for European tours and recorded albums for the German record label, Ornament Records. She cut You Know That's Right with the band Hot Links, and the album that established her in the United States; The Swamp Boogie Queen with guest spots by Bonnie Raitt and Robert Cray. She performed at both the San Francisco Blues Festival and Long Beach Blues Festival.
Webster suffered a stroke in 1993 while touring Greece and returned to performing the following year. She died from heart failure in League City, Texas, in September 1999.
So far away
Katie Webster Lyrics
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And you're so far away from me
And where are you when the sun goes down
You're so far away from me
So far away from me
So far I just can't see
So far away from me
I'm tired of being in love and being all alone
When you're so far away from me
I'm tired of making out on the telephone
And you're so far away from me
So far away from me
So far I just can't see
So far away from me
You're so far away from me
I get so tired when I have to explain
When you're so far away from me
See you been in the sun and I've been in the rain
And you're so far away from me
So far away from me
So far I just can't see
So far away from me
You're so far away from me
The song "So Far Away" by Katie Webster is a lament of a lover who is physically separated from their partner. The lyrics express the frustration and loneliness that come with being in a long-distance relationship. The singer begins by describing the surroundings of the town in which she finds herself, emphasizing how "mean" it is. She then bemoans the fact that her partner is so far away, especially when the sun goes down. The refrain of "So far away from me" is repeated throughout the song, serving to emphasize the emotional distance that separates the couple.
The singer confesses to being tired of being in love and yet alone, and of trying to maintain a relationship through phone calls and other distant means. She wishes for physical intimacy, evidenced by her sigh of "I'm tired of making out on the telephone." The chorus repeats, indicating that the physical distance between them is too great to be overcome, and that it has taken a psychological toll as well. The final verse adds a dimension of desperation, as the singer tries to explain herself to her partner, yet the distance remains. The overall tone of the song is one of sadness and resignation.
Line by Line Meaning
Here I am again in this mean old town
I find myself once more in this harsh and unpleasant place
And you're so far away from me
You are distant from me, physically and emotionally
And where are you when the sun goes down
I wonder where you are during the end of the day
You're so far away from me
You remain inaccessible to me, both physically and emotionally
So far away from me
The distance between us is vast
So far I just can't see
It is difficult for me to comprehend just how far away you are
I'm tired of being in love and being all alone
I am fatigued by my love for you and the loneliness that it brings
When you're so far away from me
Your great distance from me exacerbates the feeling of isolation
I'm tired of making out on the telephone
I am weary of exchanging affection solely through verbal communication
And you're so far away from me
You continue to remain distant, making our long-distance relationship challenging
I get so tired when I have to explain
I become wearied when I have to justify our distant relationship to others
When you're so far away from me
Your absence pains me, making it difficult to clearly articulate why we remain apart
See you been in the sun and I've been in the rain
I recognize that you are experiencing a very different life than mine
And you're so far away from me
Despite our varied experiences, the distance between us remains, making it hard to bridge the gap
So far away from me
The distance between us is immense
So far I just can't see
I struggle to envision a future where we are not so far apart
So far away from me
Our distance remains a significant issue in our relationship
You're so far away from me
You continue to seem unreachable, no matter how much effort I put in to reach you
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Carole King
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind