Near its inception, Sleeping At Last's amateur debut album, Capture, was noticed by Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan, who helped expose the music to the major-label world. Soon after, the band signed to Interscope Records and released 2003's Ghosts , their first official full-length album. Two independently-released full-length records followed: 2006's Keep No Score and 2009's Storyboards . In between the writing and recording of albums, the band has established a reputation for a pitch-perfect live show, successfully headlining several U.S. tours and sharing the stage with such artists as Switchfoot, Yellowcard, Something Corporate, Billy Corgan's Zwan, Alanis Morrisette, Lifehouse, and Phantom Planet, just to name a few. The creative process has always been protected, as the band self-produced each record, working with respected mixers such as John Goodmanson and Alan Moulder.
After the departure of drummer Chad O'Neal in 2011, the remaining duo embarked on the ambitious Yearbook project, in which O'Neal and Perdue released three songs on the first of every month in individual EPs. After its completion, all EPs were compiled into an LP and published independently. However, upon the final release of the Yearbook series, Perdue stepped down from the duo, leaving Ryan O'Neal a solo artist under the group's pre-existing moniker.
On December 10, 2012, O'Neal announced his largest project to date: the Atlas series, a three-part project approaching the themes of the origins of the universe and human development. Similar to 2011's Yearbook compilation, each set of new songs would be released as individual EPs until each part's completion, at which time the compilation of songs would be released as an LP. Up to now, 2014's Atlas I and 2019's Atlas II remain as stellar examples of O'Neal's accomplishments as a solo independent artist. Production on Atlas III is in progress, and its first two songs, "Overture III" and "Awake" have been released as singles.
Besides the Atlas series, O'Neal has kept busy with other projects, including three albums of covers commissioned by ABC's "Grey's Anatomy", in which Sleeping At Last has appeared a whopping 77 times. Sleeping At Last also produced the scores for the documentaries Many Beautiful Things (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) and charity:water's The Spring (Original Score). Finally, O'Neal has released multiple singles surrounding significant astronomical events, published as a compilation in 2020 under the title of Astronomy, Vol. 1.
Sleeping At Last has long been a beacon shining brightly on behalf of independent artists. In the ever-changing climate of the music industry, the quest for a successful independent career seems evermore difficult to attain. From his new home in L.A., O'Neal pursues this challenge relentlessly through his commitment to musical integrity in his songwriting, and in this way nurtures a unique and personal relationship with his listeners. He has remained true to the things that brought him to music in the first place: his love of melody and the power of words. His music and lyrics emerge from a place that is honest, raw, and spiritual: Says Ryan, "Our faith is a big part of who we are, but we have always intended our music to be for anyone that cares to listen, no matter who they are or what they believe in. Everyone hears a song in a different light."
In keeping with this, Ryan's lyrics ask every important question that occurs. While he promises no fast, sure answers, he somehow always offers hope as the consistent, overarching theme.
10000 Miles
Sleeping at Last Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Farewell for a while i'm going away
But I'll be back
Though I go ten thousand miles
Ten thousand miles my own true love
Ten thousand miles or more
The rocks may melt and the seas may burn
Oh, don't you see that lonesome dove?
Sitting on an ivy tree she's weeping for
Her own true love as I shall weep for mine
Oh, come ye back my own true love
And stay a while with me if I had a friend
All on this Earth
You've been a friend to me
You've been a friend to me
You've been a friend to me
Fare thee well my own true love
Farewell for a while i'm going away
"10,000 Miles" by Sleeping at Last is a heartfelt and melancholic song that explores themes of love, longing, and the pain of separation. The singer bids farewell to their true love, acknowledging that they are going away for a while, but promises to return despite the distance of ten thousand miles. The lyrics express a deep devotion and commitment to their loved one, even in the face of potential obstacles.
The repetition of the phrase "ten thousand miles" emphasizes the vast distance between the singer and their beloved. It signifies the physical and emotional separation they are about to endure. The second verse introduces a sense of uncertainty and doubt, with the mention of the rocks melting and the seas burning if the singer does not return. This line conveys the extreme and impossible circumstances it would take to keep them from returning to their true love.
The mention of the lonesome dove in the bridge adds a poignant element to the song. The dove serves as a symbol of sadness and mourning, paralleling the singer's own sorrow and longing for their true love. The mention of the ivy tree suggests a sense of permanence and endurance, as the dove weeps for its own true love just as the singer will weep for their own. This further emphasizes the depth of their love and the extent to which they will miss each other.
Overall, "10,000 Miles" captures the bittersweet experience of love and the pain of separation. It resonates with anyone who has had to say goodbye to their loved ones, promising to return despite the distance.
Line by Line Meaning
Fare thee well my own true love
Goodbye, my genuine love
Farewell for a while I'm going away
I bid you adieu, as I am embarking on a temporary departure
But I'll be back
However, rest assured, I will return
Though I go ten thousand miles
Despite traveling an extensive distance
Ten thousand miles my own true love
A vast distance separates us, my beloved
Ten thousand miles or more
Perhaps even further than ten thousand miles
The rocks may melt and the seas may burn
Even if the seemingly impossible happens
If I should not return
If I fail to come back
Oh, don't you see that lonesome dove?
Do you not observe that solitary bird?
Sitting on an ivy tree she's weeping for
Perched on a vine-covered tree, she sheds tears for
Her own true love as I shall weep for mine
Her genuine love, just as I will mourn for mine
Oh, come ye back my own true love
Oh, please return to me, my authentic love
And stay a while with me if I had a friend
If I were to possess a companion, please linger with me
All on this Earth
Throughout all existence
You've been a friend to me
You have been a confidant and supporter to me
You've been a friend to me
You have exhibited friendship towards me
You've been a friend to me
You have proven yourself to be a true friend to me
Fare thee well my own true love
Farewell, my true love
Farewell for a while I'm going away
Goodbye for now, for I am departing
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JIM MORAY, STORRS WILLIS RICHARD, . TRADITIONAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
claudio0507
Fare thee well
My own true love
Farewell for a while
I'm going away
But I'll be back
Though I go 10,000 miles
10,000 miles
My own true love
10,000 miles or more
The rocks may melt
And the seas may burn
If I should not return
Oh, don't you see
That lonesome dove?
Sitting on an ivy tree
She's weeping for
Her own true love
As I shall weep for mine
Oh, come ye back
My own true love
And stay a while with me
If I had a friend
All on this Earth
You've been a friend to me
You've been a friend to me
You've been a friend to me
Fare thee well
My own true love
Farewell for a while
I'm going away
Rajhean Rodriques
His songs always feel as though they're slowly stroking my soul, calming my spirit and making me feel as though it's all going to be okay.
Elizabeth
Stroking your soul? That sounds like it would hurt, for some reason.
shortie bean
Yes I agree stroking your soul that's weird
jomed
Yeah, but you know what he means
Sarah Smith
As soon as I heard the opening words, my mouth hung open in surprise. This is the song from the movie Fly Away Home that I've never heard since! It is deeply moving for me, like salve for broken hearts. Beautiful. Thank you.
Emily Clarke Zaress 'The Princess'
Sarah Smith I watched that movie so many times when I was younger and I loved the opening song and I couldn't believe it when this song came on Spotify one day as part of their music I'd forgotten all about it
Orion Firestorm
Mary Chapin Carpenter is the one who sings it in Fly Away Home.
Sarah Beth Morales
I LOVE the movie Fly Away Home and this song. A huge part of my life too. I enjoy this version of this song. Very beautiful.
Khontis
GAH! THIS is where I know this song from! I sang the original rendition of what the song is based off of called Turtle Dove by Ralph Vaugh Williams in UIL Chorous. I thought that maybe this song was based off if it but something in my gut told me I knew the song elsewhere for real. Thats where I know it, from watching the movie growing up.
Screech
I have an autistic son, and when he is having a meltdown,this is the ONLY thing that brings him peace and calms him. Its beyond magical!