Mick Jagger and Keith Richards collaborated extensively on writing the song and was recorded in late 1977 and a DEMO version was called "You Win Again". A bootleg version with Keith singing exists. The Stones, longtime country music fans, incorporated many aspects of Bakersfield-style country music into this song. These included in particular Ron Wood's use of a pedal steel guitar for a solo and highlights, an instrument used on other songs from the album like "Shattered" and "When the Whip Comes Down". Also of note is the plodding rhythm of Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman. Richards performed acoustic and electric guitars as well as sharing duties on the piano with Jagger.
The verses of the song are half sung, half spoken, with Jagger using a parodic Southern American English accent
In a 1978 interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Jagger said, "You know, when you drive through Bakersfield on a Sunday morning or Sunday evening - I did that about six months ago - all the country music radio stations start broadcasting black gospel services live from L.A. And that's what the song refers to. But the song's really about driving alone, listening to the radio." On influences, Jagger stated "I wouldn't say this song was influenced specifically by Gram (Parsons). That idea of country music played slightly tongue in cheek - Gram had that in 'Drugstore Truck Drivin' Man', and we have that sardonic quality, too." Asked by the interviewer if the girl in the song was a real one, Jagger replied, "Yeah, she's real, she's a real girl."
Far Away Eyes
The Rolling Stones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Listening to gospel music on the colored radio station
And the preacher said, you know you always have the Lord by your side
And I was so pleased to be informed of this that I ran
Twenty red lights in his honor
Thank you Jesus, thank you Lord
I had an arrangement to meet a girl, and I was kind of late
She'd be off with the nearest truck driver she could find
Much to my surprise, there she was sittin' in the corner
A little bleary, worse for wear and tear
Was a girl with far away eyes
So if you're down on your luck
And you can't harmonize
Find a girl with far away eyes
And if you're downright disgusted
And life ain't worth a dime
Get a girl with far away eyes
Well the preacher kept right on saying that all I had to do was send
Ten dollars to the church of the Sacred Bleeding Heart Of Jesus
Located somewhere in Los Angeles, California
And next week they'd say my prayer on the radio
And all my dreams would come true
So I did, the next week, I got a prayer with a girl
Well, you know what kind of eyes she got, well I'll tell ya
So if you're down on your luck
I know you all sympathize
Find a girl with far away eyes
And if you're downright disgusted
And life ain't worth a dime
Get a girl with far away eyes
So if you're down on your luck
I know you all sympathize
Get a girl with far away eyes
The Rolling Stones's song Far Away Eyes is a satirical song about American Southern religious culture as seen through the eyes of British musician Mick Jagger. The song is written in the form of a narrative, with Jagger recounting a story of driving through Bakersfield early on a Sunday morning, listening to gospel music on the radio. Jagger hears a preacher on the radio tell his congregation that they always have the Lord by their side, and he becomes so excited by this that he runs twenty red lights in the preacher's honor, thanking Jesus and the Lord.
Jagger then reveals that he has an arrangement to meet a girl, but he is running late. He fully expects the girl to have found a new truck driver boyfriend in his absence. However, when he arrives, he finds her sitting in the corner, tired and worse for wear. He describes her as having "far away eyes." Jagger then delivers the song's satirical message by suggesting that if you're down on your luck or disgusted with life, finding a girl with "far away eyes" - someone who is disenchanted and jaded with the world - might be just the cure.
Overall, the song is a wry take on the intersection of religious fervor, the search for meaning in life, and the pursuit of romance and happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
I was driving home early Sunday morning through Bakersfield
The singer was driving through Bakersfield on an early Sunday morning.
Listening to gospel music on the colored radio station
The singer was listening to gospel music on a radio station that played music for people of color.
And the preacher said, you know you always have the Lord by your side
The preacher said that the singer always has God with him.
And I was so pleased to be informed of this that I ran
The artist was happy to hear this and drove recklessly, running 20 red lights in honor of the statement.
Twenty red lights in his honor
The artist ran 20 red lights in honor of the preacher's statement about God always being with him.
Thank you Jesus, thank you Lord
The singer thanked Jesus and God for being with him.
I had an arrangement to meet a girl, and I was kind of late
The singer had a date with a girl and was running late.
And I thought by the time I got there she'd be off
The artist thought the girl would have left by the time he arrived.
She'd be off with the nearest truck driver she could find
The artist thought the girl would have left with a truck driver.
Much to my surprise, there she was sittin' in the corner
To his surprise, the girl was still there waiting for him.
A little bleary, worse for wear and tear
The girl was tired and looked like she had been through a lot.
Was a girl with far away eyes
The girl had distant and unfocused eyes.
So if you're down on your luck
If you're having a hard time in life.
And you can't harmonize
If you can't find someone who matches with you well.
Find a girl with far away eyes
Find a girl who has an indifferent or empty expression.
And if you're downright disgusted
If you're feeling extremely disappointed or disheartened.
And life ain't worth a dime
When life has no value.
Get a girl with far away eyes
Find a girl who has distant and unfocused eyes.
Well the preacher kept right on saying that all I had to do was send
The preacher kept talking about sending something to the Sacred Bleeding Heart Of Jesus church in Los Angeles.
Ten dollars to the church of the Sacred Bleeding Heart Of Jesus
The preacher asked the artist to send ten dollars to the church.
Located somewhere in Los Angeles, California
The church was somewhere in Los Angeles, California.
And next week they'd say my prayer on the radio
The church promised to broadcast the artist's prayer on the radio.
And all my dreams would come true
The singer believed that sending ten dollars and having his prayer broadcasted would make all his dreams come true.
So I did, the next week, I got a prayer with a girl
The artist sent the money and the next week, he received a prayer from a girl.
Well, you know what kind of eyes she got, well I'll tell ya
The girl who sent the prayer to him had far away or unfocused eyes.
I know you all sympathize
The singer believes that the listeners can relate to his story of seeking comfort in a girl with far away eyes.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Keith Richards, Mick Jagger
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cramos571
- And who'still listening to this baby in early 2024?
The best oakie from the stokie song ever produced. To me, the best Stones' song.
I am a Christian but I have to admit I love this song. In fact, I bought that album "Some Girls" only for this song and Beast of Burden.
I went to see these guys twice:
-@Landover Mall, Md on dec 7/1981
-@Prudential Center on dec 14/2012
... and I also gotta admit that those concerts are the best of the best ever attended by this ARR (American Rocker Refugee).
I've attended other concerts featuring orchestras, rock groups and country oakie bands, but guys: nothing compares to them.
If the guys at my church are reading this, well I will tell them the truth.
And the truth is 👆
@TheRollingStones
I had an arrangement to meet a girl, and I was kind of late
And I thought by the time I got there she'd be off
She'd be off with the nearest truck driver she could find
Much to my surprise, there she was sittin' in the corner
A little bleary, worse for wear and tear
Was a girl with far away eyes
@michaelberich
Thank You The Rolling Stones!!!
@tomcoletto3707
a pre-MTV video that I never saw before. great post.
@GerardoSoy
Genios!!!
@WolfgangLXoXo
thank you
@joaquimtorres1466
Beautiful song!
@yragj6556
More authentic than anything played on country radio the last 30 years.
@kevinfinnerty8414
Sad but true.
@gomesdegarcia232
Thanks.l like of the to listen the Roling Stones,lt favorite bande Mine...take Care.
@alexbowman7582
Yet half a parody