So Far Away
Stephen Duffy && The Lilac Time Lyrics

When I was a young, young man
Reflecting on the singer's youth and how the world was different during that time

Back in the twentieth century
A specific time period referring to the past, which for the singer is the 1900s

Well, you made your own amusements then
During the singer's youth, people had to entertain themselves without relying on technology or constant stimulation

Flying to the moon
A metaphorical expression of how the artist wishes to escape the present moment and go back in time

The benefit of hindsight
Looking back on the past with a better understanding of what happened and why

Is always black and white
Hindsight does not account for the complexities of lived experiences

And there always were contrasting ways
There were different methods for coping with difficult situations in the past

To get you through the night
Ways of coping were necessary in order to make it through difficult times

From bright morning star to morning sun
Metaphors for the different ways of coping with difficult times mentioned earlier

But they are so far away
These methods of coping mentioned earlier are now distant and inaccessible

That I won't even ask them to stay
The singer acknowledges that they cannot return to those methods of coping

I've been looking for a way to be true
The artist desires authenticity and a sense of purpose in their life

A way out of the blue
The singer is searching for a solution to their problems, which seem to have come out of nowhere

Calling but I can't get through
The singer is trying to communicate their struggles to someone but is having difficulty being understood

To explain myself to you
The singer desires for someone to understand them and what they are going through

The constant repetition
The same experiences and thoughts that continually plague the artist

Of details from the past
Memories and events from the artist's past that keep resurfacing

The painful human anguish
The deep emotional pain and suffering caused by failed relationships or situations

Of why can't true love last?
The singer is grappling with the concept of why true love doesn't seem to last

Whilst living in the wreckage
The artist feels as if they are surviving rather than thriving, living amongst the aftermath of their experiences

Of all we have done
The consequences of actions taken by the artist and others close to them continue to affect them in the present

But you are so far away
The person or people the artist desires to understand them and their struggles are not accessible to them

That I won't even ask you to stay
The singer acknowledges that they cannot force someone to understand them

The day the Berlin wall came down
A significant moment in history that signifies the end of the Cold War and the beginning of a new era

And other days forgotten
Other important moments in history or personal life that have faded from memory

Nostalgia isn't what it was
The singer acknowledges that their perception of the past has changed, and looking back on it is not the same as it used to be

Farewell then Johnny Rotten, Brian Jones
A reference to musicians who have passed away, acknowledging their contributions to music and culture

And Jackson Pollock, Chairman Mao
A reference to artists and political figures who have passed away, acknowledging their impact on the world

See you later Allen Ginsberg
A reference to an important poet and activist who has passed away

You changed the world somehow
Acknowledgement of the contributions made by the aforementioned figures

And the times when we weren't crying
Brief moments of happiness or contentment that contrast with the painful emotions mentioned earlier

Have been fun
The artist acknowledges that there were enjoyable moments in the past but recognizes that they cannot return to those moments

No way, I won't even ask them to stay
Final acknowledgement that the past cannot be returned to and that the artist must move on in the present