Rolling Stones – Far Away Eyes

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

When I saw the Rolling Stones in the 90s there was a vote on a song for them to play. This one won and I didn’t suspect it. Frankly, I would rather hear this than yet another version of Satisfaction or Jumping Jack Flash although I love those songs.

Mick said he wrote this after driving through Bakersfield on a Sunday morning. He would listen to the country music stations and they would many times be broadcasting black gospel church services.

This tongue in cheek song was released as the B-side to Miss You. It’s a fun song because it’s so unlike them.

Mick Jagger: “I knew Gram Parsons quite well, and he was one of the few people who really helped me to sing country music — before that, Keith and I used to just copy it off records. I used to play piano with Gram, and on “Faraway Eyes” I’m playing piano, though Keith is actually playing the top part — we added it on after. But I wouldn’t say this song was influenced specifically by Gram. 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.

 

Far Away Eyes

I was driving home early Sunday morning through Bakersfield
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
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

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

Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player.

26 thoughts on “Rolling Stones – Far Away Eyes”

    1. I know he really laid it on big. When they played it live I was shocked… I always liked this one also.

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      2. I have never seen that video either…his facial expressions are priceless.
        Early drafts of the song have Keith singing…which would be interesting to hear…but Mick did great.

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      4. Have you ever heard Keith sing with George Jones? It is pretty good. If you haven’t it’s worth a youtube visit.

        I was floored when I heard it the Stones play it.

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  6. I had to look this one up – love it, man! In addition to the music, the lyrics are great!

    It’s yet another illustration the Stones have country chops. The most compelling example is “Dead Flowers,” one of my all-time favorites.

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  9. Another one I haven’t heard in years. With Mick talking thru this, with his whacked out British country accent, it reminds me of Ray Stevens talking thru some of his songs. The eye rolls are similar, too. LOL!

    Charlie Watts always tickles the hell out of me, too.

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    1. He keeps your attention with his mirks and smiles. Keith is singing on an earlier version… I like some of Gram’s music.
      The Flying Burrito Brothers – Hot Burrito #1 is my favorite.

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