“A Thousand Miles from Nowhere” by Dwight Yoakam – SteemitCentral Lyrics Challenge – Day 4/60

in #music5 years ago (edited)

“I've got bruises on my memory, I've got tear stains on my hands. In the mirror there's a vision, Of what used to be a man.”

song ~ “A Thousand Miles from Nowhere”  
artist ~ Dwight Yoakam  

I'm a thousand miles from nowhere
Time don't matter to me
'Cause I'm a thousand miles from nowhere
And there's no place I want to be

I got heartaches in my pocket
I got echoes in my head
And all that I keep hearing
Are the cruel, cruel things that you said

I'm a thousand miles from nowhere
Time don't matter to me
'Cause I'm a thousand miles from nowhere
And there's no place I want to be

Oh, I.   Oh, I.    Oh, I.
Oh, I.   Oh, I.    Oh, I.

I've got bruises on my memory
I've got tear stains on my hands
In the mirror there's a vision
Of what used to be a man

I'm a thousand miles from nowhere
Time don't matter to me
'Cause I'm a thousand miles from nowhere
And there's no place I want to be

I'm a thousand miles from nowhere
Time don't matter to me
'Cause I'm a thousand miles from nowhere
And there's no place I want to be

Oh, I
I'm a thousand miles from nowhere
I'm a thousand miles from nowhere

I'm a thousand
I'm a thousand  ...    (Image source)

Comments 

Dwight Yoakam’s cool, bluesy country music captures the essence of the genre – and then some. On the other hand, there are those who claim that his hip, honky-tonk music transcends the genre, by taking hints from the masters of rock and pop music. As for me, I’d go with the former view. 

More country than most country

Yoakam’s music has been described as being “more country” than even that of the other great country music icons. This classic song of his is a prime example. While he evokes the standard country themes of heartbreak, sadness, and loneliness, the gentle rhythm ensures you that, in fact, all is okay.  

Time don’t matter, place don’t matter

He croons, “Time don’t matter to me,” and  “There’s no place I wanna be.”  Maybe so, but he seems to have accepted his situation with zen-like equanimity. And as seen in the video, he even seems to be rather content with his situation.    

While he recalls the wretched “vision of what used to be a man,” he does not seem to be haunted by it. As the train rolls on, through an (almost) deserted landscape, towards an unknown destination, he’s along for the ride.    

There may be “no place” that he wants to be and “no place” that he wants to go, but when he arrives somewhere, he’ll probably be fine. Even if that place too is “a thousand miles from nowhere.”      (Image source)
Dwight Yoakam – "A Thousand Miles from Nowhere"  (Right-click to hear on YouTube)
Lyrics by Dwight Yoakam, courtesy of – AZLyrics.com
References – Wikipedia

This is my entry in the 60-Day Lyrics Challenge

Click here to learn about @SteemitCentral’s – Lyrics Challenge

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This is quite a philosophical song, being a thousand miles from nowhere. I think the singer wants to separate himself from the chaos of this world by claiming to have heartaches in his pockets. And by being a thousand miles from nowhere, the singer has conquered time and all the poison of haste that comes with it.

Another great song!

Thanks. Glad you like it. Yoakam is known for not only his songs per se, but also for his suberb vocals and his interesting (even "philosophical," maybe) lyrics.

It's great to learn about Yoakam. I hope to see some of his songs in the forthcoming series. Cheers!

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