Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como (May 18, 1912 – May 12, 2001) was an Italian Am… Read Full Bio ↴Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como (May 18, 1912 – May 12, 2001) was an Italian American crooner during the 20th century. Throughout a career spanning more than half a century he recorded exclusively with the RCA Victor label after signing with them in 1943. He sold millions of records for RCA but he also pioneered a weekly musical variety television show which set the standard and proved one of the most successful in television history. His combined success on television and popular recordings has never been equalled by any other artist of the time. He was always noted for his relaxed attitude, an attitude which was reflected in his singing style. His was a beautiful voice, possessed by this former barber.

Como was also very popular in the UK. His chart successes ranged from 1953 to 1974 and included two number one's, his first hit 'Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes' in 1953 and 'Magic Moments' which stayed at the top for 8 weeks in 1958. His other big UK hits were 'Delaware' ( No 3 in 1960), ' It's Impossible' (No 4 in 1971) , 'And I Love You So' (No 3 in 1973), and 'For The Good Times' (No 7 in 1973).

As well as TV and recording success, Perry Como also made a number of films, including ' Something For The Boys' and 'Doll Face' which were released during WW2.

He died in his sleep on 12 May 2001.

Far Away Places
Perry Como Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Far away places, with strange soundin' names
Far away over the sea
Those far away places, with the strange soundin' names
Are callin', callin' me

Goin' to China or maybe Siam
I wanna see for myself
Those far away places, I've been readin' about

In a book that I took from a shelf

I start gettin' restless whenever I hear
The whistle of the train
I pray for the day I can get under way
And look for those castles in Spain

They call me a dreamer, well maybe I am
But I know that I'm burnin' to see

Those far away places, with the strange soundin' names
Callin', callin' me

Overall Meaning

The song "Far Away Places" by Perry Como is a beautiful tribute to wanderlust and the human desire for exploration. The song begins by describing far-away places with strange sounding names that sing to the singer. The singer wonders about the beauty of these places and dreams about them. He longs to go there and experience the unknown.

The second verse sees the singer consider different destinations - China or Siam - anywhere where he can experience the faraway places he's only read about in books. He feels restless whenever he hears a train whistle and is eager to chase after the "castles in Spain", which is used here as a metaphor for his dreams and aspirations.

Finally, the singer admits that he might be seen as a dreamer but he knows he's meant to travel the world and see those far away places that call to him. It's a beautiful sentiment that speaks to anyone who's ever felt restless and longed to explore the world. Perry Como's soothing voice adds an extra layer of nostalgia to the song.

Overall, "Far Away Places" is a timeless classic that reminds us of the wonders of traveling, and how it can provide us with opportunities for personal growth and self-discovery. The song is both evocative and inspirational, painting a picture of distant lands that we can only hope to see one day.

Line by Line Meaning

Far away places, with strange soundin' names
Refers to exotic locations around the world that have unfamiliar names

Far away over the sea
These locations can only be accessed by crossing the ocean

Those far away places, with the strange soundin' names
Reinforces the idea of exotic, far-off destinations that are not well-known to the singer

Are callin', callin' me
The allure of these places is strong and compelling to the singer, drawing them towards adventure and exploration

Goin' to China or maybe Siam
Specific examples of the kind of foreign destinations that the singer is interested in visiting

I wanna see for myself
The singer is eager to experience these new places firsthand

Those far away places, I've been readin' about
The singer has likely been researching these far-off destinations and building up an image of them in their mind

In a book that I took from a shelf
The source of the singer's knowledge and inspiration for these places may come from books or other media

I start gettin' restless whenever I hear
The idea of travel excites the singer and makes them eager to explore new horizons

The whistle of the train
The sound of a train whistle is a symbol of travel and adventure that makes the singer yearn for new experiences

I pray for the day I can get under way
The singer longs for the opportunity to set out on their journey

And look for those castles in Spain
A metaphor for this longing for adventure and the unknown

They call me a dreamer, well maybe I am
Acknowledges that some might view the singer's desire for adventure as unrealistic or naive

But I know that I'm burnin' to see
Despite this criticism, the singer's passion for exploration is strong and unwavering

Those far away places, with the strange soundin' names
Reinforces the allure and fascination the singer feels towards these mysterious destinations

Callin', callin' me
The pull of these destinations is strong and persistent, constantly beckoning the singer towards adventure and discovery

Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Alex Kramer, Joan Whitney

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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