So Far Away
Stephen Duffy & The Lilac Time Lyrics

When I was a young, young man
Reflecting on his younger self, the singer reminisces about his past.

Back in the twentieth century
The singer is specifically remembering a time long ago, in the 1900s.

Well, you made your own amusements then
Entertainment wasn't provided like it is now; people had to come up with their own ways to have fun.

Flying to the moon
A reference to the excitement and optimism of the space race in the 1960s, and how far away that time feels.

The benefit of hindsight
Looking back on the past from a present perspective can offer new insights and understanding.

Is always black and white
Now that the past can be reflected on through hindsight, it may seem more clear-cut and simple than it was at the time.

And there always were contrasting ways
There were many different paths or methods to take in order to cope with difficult times or situations.

To get you through the night
These paths or methods were often used to find comfort and support during trying times.

From bright morning star to morning sun
The paths could be as varied as a shining star in the morning sky to the rising sun.

But they are so far away
The methods previously mentioned seem far in the singer's past and not easily accessible now.

That I won't even ask them to stay
The singer is resigned to the fact that these methods are not within reach anymore and does not ask for their return.

I've been looking for a way to be true
The singer has been searching for a genuine way to live their life.

A way out of the blue
The singer feels stuck in a sense of sadness or melancholy, and is seeking a way to change that.

Calling but I can't get through
The singer is struggling to communicate their feelings or desires to someone else.

To explain myself to you
The singer wants to be understood by another person, but is having trouble making that happen.

The constant repetition
The recurring themes or patterns.

Of details from the past
The memories or experiences that are a part of the singer's history.

The painful human anguish
The emotional pain and suffering that can accompany memories or experiences.

Of why can't true love last?
The sadness and confusion surrounding the end of a relationship or the loss of love.

Whilst living in the wreckage
The singer is continuing on despite feeling like they are surrounded by the aftermath of a disaster.

Of all we have done
The negative consequences or fallout of past actions.

But you are so far away
The person the singer is addressing is either physically distant or emotionally unavailable.

That I won't even ask you to stay
The singer has given up hope that the relationship or connection between them can be salvaged, and won't try to hold onto it any longer.

The day the Berlin wall came down
A momentous event that signaled the end of the Cold War and the reunification of Germany.

And other days forgotten
Other important moments, historic or personal, that are now faded or overlooked in the singer's memory.

Nostalgia isn't what it was
The singer realizes that looking back on the past through rose-colored glasses isn't always accurate or helpful.

Farewell then Johnny Rotten, Brian Jones
The singer is saying goodbye, either literally or metaphorically, to important figures from music history.

And Jackson Pollock, Chairman Mao
More figures who have influenced society or culture in some way, but are now gone.

See you later Allen Ginsberg
An American writer and political activist who was part of the Beat Generation and other social movements.

You changed the world somehow
These influential figures had an impact on the world, both large and small.

And the times when we weren't crying
Moments in the past where there was not sadness or strife, but rather contentment or joy.

Have been fun
The singer fondly remembers those happy moments.

But they are so far away
Those happy moments seem like a distant memory now.

That I won't even ask them to stay
The singer is painfully aware that those happier times are gone and cannot be brought back, and therefore won't try to hold onto them.