The band's music is a mixture of 1960s-style psychedelia and folk-rock with old-fashioned country and modern alternative rock influences. The Coral have released nine albums (The Coral, Magic and Medicine, Nightfreak and the Sons of Becker, The Invisible Invasion, Roots & Echoes, The Singles Collection/Magic & Mysteries, Butterfly House, The Curse of Love, and Distance Inbetween). Their self-titled debut album was nominated for the 2002 Mercury Music Prize and later voted the fourth best album of the year by NME Magazine. It was announced on 9 January 2008 that Bill Ryder-Jones would be leaving, but the band would continue as a 5-piece.
Far from the Crowd
The Coral Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Waiting by the rocks
Stories never told
When you cried out loud
It never made a sound
Away from the towns
And far from the crowd
Gold, silver and gold
Waiting by the rocks
Shivering cold
Like Miranda said
Life's not for the dead
Away from the sounds
And far from the crowd
Where did you go?
Waiting by the rocks
Stories never told
One forgotten day
Sadly passed away
Into the ground
And far from the crowd
The Coral’s song Far from the Crowd tells the story of someone who has disappeared and is now presumed dead. The lyrics capture a sense of nostalgia for a person that was once present, but has now vanished into thin air. The line “where did you go?” is constantly repeated, emphasizing the mystery and confusion surrounding the person’s disappearance.
The image of waiting by the rocks suggests a location of isolation and beauty, but also a sense of being stuck in limbo between two worlds. The stories never told and the cry that never made a sound may be highlighting the person’s inability to fully express themselves or to share their experiences with others. The repetition of the phrase “away from the towns and far from the crowd” emphasizes the person’s isolation and the fact that they may have gone missing due to being a loner or feeling disconnected from society.
The imagery of gold and silver waiting by the rocks creates a feeling of anticipation and hidden treasure, but the shivering cold brings a sense of fear and uncertainty. The reference to Miranda and “life’s not for the dead” suggests that the person may have been struggling with mental health issues or feeling trapped in a life that they did not want. The final verse reveals that the person has actually died and is now buried “far from the crowd”.
Overall, the lyrics of the song conjure up a melancholic atmosphere and a sense of longing for someone who was once present but is now gone.
Line by Line Meaning
Where did you go?
Asking the person where they disappeared to.
Waiting by the rocks
Waiting for the person by the rocks.
Stories never told
There were stories that were never shared or revealed.
When you cried out loud
When the person was upset and expressed their emotions out loud.
It never made a sound
Nobody seemed to hear or respond to their cries.
Away from the towns
The person was located far from civilization and cities.
And far from the crowd
They were isolated and distant from people and society as a whole.
Gold, silver and gold
There was valuable treasure that was being waited for.
Shivering cold
Feeling cold and shivering due to the harsh weather.
Like Miranda said
Referring to a quote from Miranda (unknown who she is) as a reference point for what was being said.
Life's not for the dead
Life is meant to be lived and experienced, not just simply exist.
Away from the sounds
Being located in a place where there is no noise or sound.
And far from the crowd
Similar to before, being distant from people and society as a whole.
One forgotten day
Referring to a day that has been forgotten or overlooked.
Sadly passed away
The person has died and left this world.
Into the ground
The person's body has been buried in the earth.
And far from the crowd
Even in death, they are still isolated and away from society.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES SKELLY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind