1) The Choir were a ro… Read Full Bio ↴There have been two bands known as The Choir:
1) The Choir were a rock band in the mid-1960s from Cleveland Ohio, best known for the oft-covered song "It's Cold Outside". With the addition of singer Eric Carmen, they became The Raspberries in 1970. The band consisted of Dann Klawon on rhythm guitar, Dave Smalley on vocals & rhythm guitar, Wally Bryson on vocals, lead guitar, & bass, and Jim Bonfanti on vocals & drums.
2) The Choir (originally The Youth Choir) is an atmospheric alternative Christian rock band, led by Derri Daugherty on guitar and vocals, Steve Hindalong on drums -- who also writes most of the band's lyrics -- and Dan Michaels on lyricon, electric flute and saxophone. Originally formed in Southern California in the early 1980s, the band members moved to the Nashville, Tennessee area in the 1990s. Past members include guitarist Marc Byrd and bass guitarists Michael Sauerbrey, Robin Spurs, Bill Batstone, and the late Tim Chandler.
Each band member also has a depth of musical history outside of The Choir. Hindalong produced four successful City On A Hill albums, writing the well-known song "God of Wonders" with Marc Byrd. Daugherty has been a member of the Christian-alterna-pop-supergroup The Lost Dogs since it started in 1991, and Hindalong joined the group in 2006. Chandler was the bass player for years for Daniel Amos and that band's alter egos The Swirling Eddies, and passed away in 2018. Byrd was a member of Common Children, recorded with his wife Christine Glass as Glassbyrd, and is currently half of the post-rock duo Hammock. Michaels has been a Senior Vice President of Fair Trade Services (formerly INO Records) since 2000.
So Far Away
The Choir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With strange-sounding names
Far away over the sea
Those far away places
With the strange-sounding names
Are callin' (callin'), callin' (callin') me
Goin' to China or maybe Siam
Those far away places I've been readin' about
In a book that I took from the shelf
I start getting restless whenever I hear
The whistle of a train
I pray for the day I can get underway
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-sounding names
Callin' (callin', callin,' callin')
Callin' me (callin', callin,' callin', callin' me)
I pray for the day when I'll find a way
Those far a way places to see
Those far away places
With the strange-sounding names
Callin', callin' (callin,' callin', callin' me)
The Choir's song, So Far Away, is a wistful melody of wanderlust, depicting the desire to explore the world and discover the mysteries of far-flung places. The lyrics speak of enchanting, far away lands with unusual names that beckon the singer to visit. The idea of travel and exploration is a recurrent theme throughout the song, with the singer wanting to behold the beauty of China, Siam, and other exotic locations. This song can also be interpreted as an escape, as the singer desires to leave their mundane surroundings and find adventure in the world beyond.
One of the most striking elements of "So Far Away" is how the choir's harmonies create an emotional and haunting sound. The repetition of "callin', callin'" in the chorus adds to the sense of longing and dreaminess that pervades the song. Additionally, the lyrics' structure is captivating, as they evoke a sense of yearning and dreaminess, but also an urgency to explore. The idea of leaving the known for the unknown and the unexplored, despite the unknowns, is a universal human aspiration that this song captures beautifully.
The song also hints at the romantic idealism often associated with adventure and travel. The line "Those far away places/I've been readin' about/In a book that I took from the shelf" implies that the singer's desire to travel is fueled in part by the excitement of discovery and the charming myths surrounding these far-off places.
Overall, The Choir's "So Far Away" is a nostalgic song about wanderlust, exploration, and the yearning to escape the familiar and experience the world. Its emotive harmonies and lyrics make it a classic that resonates with listeners today.
Line by Line Meaning
Far away places
Distant and remote locations
With strange-sounding names
Places that have names that are unfamiliar and unusual
Far away over the sea
Locations that are far across the ocean
Those far away places
The distant, remote locations spoken about previously
With the strange-sounding names
Again, these are the locations with the unusual and unfamiliar names
Are callin' (callin'), callin' (callin') me
These places are beckoning, urging me to come and explore them
Goin' to China or maybe Siam
I am considering traveling to China or perhaps Siam
I want to see for myself
I have a desire to personally witness and experience these places
Those far away places I've been readin' about
I've come across various locations in books that I really want to see in person
In a book that I took from the shelf
I found these places in a book that I grabbed off the shelf
I start getting restless whenever I hear
Whenever I hear the sound of a train whistle, I become very restless
The whistle of a train
This is the sound of a train's whistle blowing
I pray for the day I can get underway
I hope for the day when I can finally start traveling to these places
And look for those castles in Spain
I am excited to go on this adventure and find amazing things like castles in Spain
They call me a dreamer, well, maybe I am
Others may see me as idealistic or unrealistic, but I know what I want to do
But I know that I'm burnin' to see
I am passionate and driven to travel to these far away, remote places
Those far away places
Again, these are the far off locations I desire to explore
With the strange-sounding names
These unknown places have peculiar and distinct labels
Callin' (callin', callin,' callin')
Calling me by name, beckoning me to come visit
Callin' me (callin', callin,' callin', callin' me)
They want me to come and see what they have to offer
I pray for the day when I'll find a way
I hope for the day when I am able to travel to these remote locations
Those far a way places to see
These faraway places are what I want to witness with my own eyes
Callin', callin' (callin,' callin', callin' me)
Once again, these places are calling out to me, encouraging me to answer their call and explore
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Alex Kramer, Joan Whitney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind