Discography:
1995 - Sleater-Kinney (Chainsaw)
1996 - Call the Doctor (Chainsaw)
1997 - Dig Me Out (Kill Rock Stars)
1999 - The Hot Rock (Kill Rock Stars)
2000 - All Hands on the Bad One (Kill Rock Stars)
2002 - One Beat (Kill Rock Stars)
2005 - The Woods (Sub Pop)
2015 - No Cities to Love (Sub Pop)
2019 - The Center Won't Hold (Mom+Pop)
2021 - Path of Wellness (Mom+Pop)
FAR AWAY
Sleater-Kinney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nurse the baby on the couch
Then the phone rings
"Turn on the TV"
Watch the world explode in flames
And don't leave the house
And the sky overhead
Clear blue holds its breath
And the heart is hit
In a city far away
But it feels so close
Don't breathe the air today
Don't speak of why you're afraid
(Standing here on a one way road
And I fall down, and I fall down
No other direction for this to go
And we fall down, and we fall down)
Why can't I get along
Why can't I get along
Why can't I get along with you?
And the president hides
While working men rush in
And give their lives
I look to the sky
And ask it not to rain
On my family tonight
Don't breathe the air today
Don't speak of why you're afraid
(Standing here on a one way road
And I fall down, and I fall down
No other direction for this to go
And we fall down, and we fall down)
Why can't I get along
Why can't I get along
Why can't I get along with you?
Don't breathe the air today
Don't speak of why you're afraid
(Standing here on a one way road
And I fall down, and I fall down
No other direction for this to go
And we fall down, and we fall down)
Why can't I get along
Why can't I get along
Why can't I get along with you?
In Sleater-Kinney's song "Far Away," the lyrics describe the events of September 11, 2001, and the aftermath of the terrorist attacks. The song opens with a scene of a mother nursing her baby on a couch and receiving a phone call to turn on the television. The chorus repeats the message, "Don't breathe the air today / Don't speak of why you're afraid," alluding to the fear and uncertainty that permeated the air in the wake of the attacks. The lyrics also reference the president hiding while working men rush in to give their lives, calling for peace and asking the sky not to rain on their family that night.
The song evokes a sense of helplessness and frustration, wondering why we can't get along with each other, and why such senseless acts of violence occur. The phrase "And we fall down, and we fall down" repeats throughout the song, emphasizing the cyclical nature of tragedy and the difficulty of breaking free from it. The lyrics are poignant and emotional, painting a picture of a world thrown into chaos and urging the listener to reflect on their own relationships with others.
Overall, "Far Away" is a powerful song that captures the raw emotions of the tragedy of 9/11 and the lasting impact it had on society.
Line by Line Meaning
7:30am
Nurse the baby on the couch
Then the phone rings
"Turn on the TV"
Watch the world explode in flames
And don't leave the house
The day starts with a routine, but the phone rings and everything changes. Turning on the TV reveals the world on fire, and the only advice is not to leave home.
And the sky overhead
Is silent, waiting
Clear blue holds its breath
And the heart is hit
In a city far away
But it feels so close
The sky feels heavy and quiet, holding itself in anticipation. Despite the distance, an attack in a distant city carries the weight of intimacy.
Don't breathe the air today
Don't speak of why you're afraid
(Standing here on a one way road
And I fall down, and I fall down
No other direction for this to go
And we fall down, and we fall down)
Fear hangs heavy, and it's best not to talk about it. With no clear path forward, there's a sense of falling with nowhere else to go.
Why can't I get along
Why can't I get along
Why can't I get along with you?
Amidst the chaos, there's a desire for connection and harmony that seems impossible to achieve.
And the president hides
While working men rush in
And give their lives
I look to the sky
And ask it not to rain
On my family tonight
In a world where leaders hide away, it's the workers who risk everything. In the midst of tragedy, the only hope is for a small mercy to protect one's own family.
Don't breathe the air today
Don't speak of why you're afraid
(Standing here on a one way road
And I fall down, and I fall down
No other direction for this to go
And we fall down, and we fall down)
Despite the repeated attempts to try and quell fear or find a way forward, there's a sense of inevitability and hopelessness that continues to overwhelm.
Why can't I get along
Why can't I get along
Why can't I get along with you?
The final question acknowledges a desire to connect that is universal, while expressing the confusion and frustration of why it seems so difficult.
Contributed by Hannah O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.