Far Away Eyes

"Far Away Eyes" is the sixth track from the English rock band The Rolling Stones' 1978 album, Some Girls. It was released, as the B-side of the single "Miss You", on Rolling Stones Records, on 9 June 1978. Rolling Stone made it the 73rd song in their list of '100 Greatest Rolling Stones Songs'.[1]

"Far Away Eyes"
Back cover of "Miss You" / "Far Away Eyes"
Single by The Rolling Stones
from the album Some Girls
A-side"Miss You"
Released9 June 1978
Recorded10 October – 21 December 1977;
StudioPathé Marconi Studios, Paris
GenreCountry, country rock
Length4:24
LabelRolling Stones/Virgin
Songwriter(s)Jagger/Richards
Producer(s)The Glimmer Twins

Origin

Mick Jagger and Keith Richards collaborated extensively on writing and composing the song, which was recorded in late 1977.[2] A bootleg version with Richards singing exists. The Stones, longtime country music fans, incorporated many aspects of Bakersfield-style country music into this song. These included in particular Ronnie Wood's use of a pedal steel guitar for a solo and highlights, an instrument used on other songs from the album such as "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 piano duties with Jagger.

Content

In the lyrics, the loneliness of life and the possibilities in finding love are dealt with:

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.

The verses of the song are half sung, half spoken, with Jagger using a parodic Southern accent:

I was driving home early Sunday morning through Bakersfield

Listening to gospel music on the coloured radio station
And the preacher said, 'You know, you always have the Lord by your side'
Well, I was so pleased to be informed of this that I ran twenty red lights in His honor

Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Lord.[1]

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 we used to know, we miss her."[3]

Performances

The Rolling Stones have performed "Far Away Eyes" sporadically since its introduction to their repertoire. It is performed in the concert film Some Girls: Live in Texas '78, featuring fiddle player Doug Kershaw. A live recording from July 1995 was included on the album Totally Stripped (2016), and a performance from the Stones' 2006 A Bigger Bang Tour appears in the 2008 concert film Shine a Light and on the accompanying live album. On 20 May 2013 the song was performed in Los Angeles as part of the Stones' "50 & Counting Tour." During their Zip Code Tour the Stones performed "Far Away Eyes" at LP Field in Nashville, Tennessee on 17 June 2015.

The song has been covered by The Handsome Family on their 2002 album Smothered and Covered.[4]

Promotional video

The official promotional video was directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg,[5] who directed several other videos for the band, including those for "Start Me Up," "Jumpin' Jack Flash," and "Fool to Cry." Lindsay-Hogg also directed promotional videos for The Beatles and The Who.

Personnel

References
  1. "100 Greatest Rolling Stones Songs". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  2. Patel, Cyrus R. K. (2011). The Rolling Stones' Some Girls. New York City: Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 55. ISBN 978-1441-1928-06.
  3. Jonathan Cott (1978-06-29). "Mick Jagger: Jumpin' Jack Flash at 34". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  4. "The Handsome Family - Smothered And Covered - A Personal Collection Of Rarities Including Odd Covers, Bathroom Demos, And Orphaned Songs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  5. The Rolling Stones - Far Away Eyes - OFFICIAL PROMO on YouTube
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