The album was the result of a longtime collaboration between the two. Over the course of seven years, the songs were recorded by the pair with minimal information coming out about it.
Although Emmylou Harris is a songwriter, ten of the twelve tracks on the album were penned by Mark Knopfler.
So Far Away
Mark Knopfler And Emmylou Harris Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you're so far away from me
And where are you when the sun goes down
You're so far away from me
[Chorus:]
So far away from me
So far i just can't see
You're 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
[Chorus]
I get so tired of having to explain
When you're so far away from me
See you've been in the sun and I've been in the rain
And you're so far away from me
[Chorus]
The lyrics of Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris's song "So Far Away" express the feelings of a person who is deeply in love with someone who is physically distant from them. The singer of the song is in a "mean old town" and feeling lonely and disconnected from their loved one, who is "so far away." The song is imbued with a sense of longing and sadness, as the singer is tired of being alone and unable to physically be with the person they love.
The chorus repeats the sentiment of being so far away that it becomes impossible to see the other person. It's evident that the singer is struggling to maintain the relationship despite the distance, as they are "tired of being in love and being all alone." The lines about "making out on the telephone" imply that the couple is trying to maintain some sense of intimacy despite the physical distance, but it's not enough for the singer.
The final verse mentions the difficulty of explaining and relating to one another's experiences when they are so physically distant. The reference to "you've been in the sun and I've been in the rain" underscores the emotional distance between the two people. Overall, the song is a poignant reflection on the challenges of a long-distance relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Here I am again in this mean old town
I find myself once again in this unpleasant city
And you're so far away from me
You, the object of my affection, are located at a great distance from my current location
And where are you when the sun goes down
At nighttime, I am left wondering where you might be
You're so far away from me
You are still far away from me even when the sun goes down
So far away from me
The physical distance between us is too great
So far i just can't see
The distance is so great that I cannot see you
So far away from me
The fact that you are far away from me is becoming emotionally difficult to bear
I'm tired of being in love and being all alone
I am exhausted from the loneliness that comes with being in love from a distance
When you're so far away from me
This exhaustion comes from the fact that you are so far away from me
I'm tired of making out on the telephone
I am tired of having to rely on physical distance means of affection, like making out over the phone
And you're so far away from me
The frustrating aspect of phone affection is that it cannot close the physical distance between us
So far away from me
I miss you dearly, and the distance only magnifies that feeling
I get so tired of having to explain
I become exhausted from having to justify the difficulties and emotions that come with being in love from a distance
When you're so far away from me
The root of this exhaustion, once again, comes down to the physical distance between us
See you've been in the sun and I've been in the rain
We have both been living separate lives in different climate conditions
And you're so far away from me
Despite sharing this common experience of varying weather, we are still separated by distance
So far away from me
It is becoming too painful to think about how far apart we are
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MARK KNOPFLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@markc9690
This is a masterclass on harmony.
@rosemarygranat
Yes it is
@bennettnovack7909
You said it!
@thesunreport
I think perhaps the beauty of Mark and his music and the musicians he plays with...is that it is both a refuge and a stimulation. It is quite a mix and I feel very lucky to have had it in my life. 🙂
@Patrick_0n
Mark knopfler makes anything
@martincampbell1461
When God made a man to play guitar, he put mark knophler on the top of the tree
@canalettoDD
Thank You very much ... "now this" ;-)
@tomberry5517
What a song, not only for the separation of distance between lovers, but by extension (without one or two lines!) the separation of time and brokenness. The longing for what once was and is no more, or what could have been and can never be. Stuff of the heart and soul.
@amanzalocos
U made me shed a tear😢😊
@anthonypirtle5687
She is one of the greatest female singers of all time!