Away
Tom Flannery Lyrics
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Smoke some dope and drink some beer
And look in the mirror when the music plays
Hoping the guitar'll take you away
Take you away
Take you away
If you know your Daddy you're the chosen few
Mamma flying and about to land
From the back of another stranger's hand
Take you away
Take you away
Where can I go
What will I see?
When no one's looking down on me
I was gonna get myself a car
And point it to a distant star
Like the wise men did back in the day
Before someone took the babe away
Took him away
Took him away
Where can I go
What will I see?
When no one's looking down on me
There ain't much to do 'round here
Smoke some dope and drink some beer
And look in the mirror when the music plays
Hoping the guitar'll take you away
Take you away
Take you away
The lyrics in Tom Flannery's "Away" depict a sense of desperation and self-reflection. The singer of the song is stuck in a small town with limited options, and the only escape seems to be through drugs and music. The opening lines "There ain't much to do 'round here, smoke some dope and drink some beer" highlights the lack of opportunities and excitement in their hometown. The following lines "And look in the mirror when the music plays, hoping the guitar'll take you away" suggest that the singer is using music as a way to escape their current situation and possibly find a sense of belonging elsewhere.
The second verse of the song reveals glimpses of the singer's personal life. The lines "If you know your Daddy you're the chosen few, Alimony always overdue, Mama flying and about to land, from the back of another stranger's hand" hint at a broken family unit and the struggles that come with it. The singer seems to be dealing with the emotional impact of their parents' separation and their mother's relationships with questionable partners.
The refrain "Where can I go, what will I see when no one's looking down on me" is a questioning of the meaning and purpose of life. The singer is searching for something more than their current existence, something that will give their life meaning and direction. Overall, "Away" is a poignant song that conveys the profound sense of alienation and longing for a sense of purpose that many people experience.
Line by Line Meaning
There ain't much to do 'round here
The singer is expressing his boredom and lack of opportunities in his town.
Smoke some dope and drink some beer
The singer is suggesting that drug and alcohol use is a common pastime in his town.
And look in the mirror when the music plays
Despite his boredom and substance use, the singer still hopes to escape through music, but also acknowledges a level of self-absorption.
Hoping the guitar'll take you away
Again, the artist is seeking a way to escape through music.
Take you away
Reinforces the artist's desire to escape through music.
If you know your Daddy you're the chosen few
Referencing a privilege or advantage that comes with knowing one's father.
Alimony always overdue
The singer's father has financial obligations, possibly to the singer's mother.
Mamma flying and about to land
The artist's mother is traveling or in motion in some way.
From the back of another stranger's hand
Suggests that the artist's mother is engaging in casual sexual encounters.
Where can I go
The artist is searching for a place to escape or start anew.
What will I see?
The singer is hopeful for the possibilities that could be discovered in a new place.
When no one's looking down on me
The artist desires freedom from societal expectations or judgment.
I was gonna get myself a car
The singer dreams of independence and mobility.
And point it to a distant star
The singer wants to pursue his dreams and aspirations, no matter how far out of reach they seem.
Like the wise men did back in the day
Referencing biblical figures who followed a star in search of a holy child, suggesting a similar quest for something greater.
Before someone took the babe away
A reference to King Herod's attempt to kill the infant Jesus in the Bible, metaphorically representing the thwarting of the artist's own dreams and desires.
Took him away
Reinforces the idea of someone or something snatching away a desired opportunity or outcome.
Take you away
The chorus repeats, highlighting the singer's longing for escape and transcendence through music.
Contributed by Micah I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.