In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
You came to meet me out on the line
You couldn't believe I was feeling fine
When I really needed you, you were gone;
So long
We were too far apart
Right from the start
I couldn't be any closer to you now
Is it really punk rock, like the party line?
Do you have to think about that? Can I give you some time?
'Cause when I really needed you, you were gone
So long
We were too far apart
Right from the start
I couldn't be any closer to you now
Too far apart
Right from the start
And I couldn't be any closer to you now
You couldn't believe I was feeling fine
When I really needed you, you were gone;
So long
We were too far apart
Right from the start
I couldn't be any closer to you now
Is it really punk rock, like the party line?
Do you have to think about that? Can I give you some time?
'Cause when I really needed you, you were gone
So long
We were too far apart
Right from the start
I couldn't be any closer to you now
Too far apart
Right from the start
And I couldn't be any closer to you now
Lyrics submitted by OwnPersonalDemon
Too Far Apart Lyrics as written by Jeffrey Scott Tweedy Jeff Tweedy
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think this song is simple yet has a discrete amount of complexity to it. I think it's about when you need someone, but they can't be there for you in the way that you need. And it seems to be about a girl and she met him out "on the line" and "you couldn't believe i was feeling fine" so, she knew something was wrong but couldn't be there for him in the ways that he wanted. They were never really close enough in the first place, and now she's gone, and they still never had the oppurtunity to get close.
it's about wanting to be involved or hang out with someone but they don't have the time of day for you. Like how someone you want the attention of is to busy to acknowledge you because they have so much on they're mind or to many other's demanding they're attention as well. And the person feeling left behind hence "too far apart" is expressing genuine concern. Because if you feel really close to someone but they aren't returning that... well...
ugh. you just described something exactly from my past. .......
haha ugh just describes the long lasting memory & ouch factor of when the girl I felt a connection with/wanted to hang out with/get to know more just didn't have the time, or rather, didn't make the time to connect more & get to know me.
this is actually beautiful..it is simple. The fact that "We were too far apart, Right from the start I couldn't be any closer to you now" keeps coming up means that its important. it proves that the person feels so separated from the person that they cannot be forced to move in close if the other one is never around when they are needed.
"Is it really punk rock, like the party line? Do you have to think about that? Can I give you some time? 'Cause when I really needed you, you were gone, So long"
This is my favorite..."is it really punk rock, like the party line?" punk rock is more 'chaotic' maybe the other person wasnt ready to settle down..they wanted more adventure and without realizing it they were leaving the other one behind.
To me, these lyrics mean: She reached out to meet him and couldn't believe how well he was doing without her. But he says that when he really needed her, she wasn't there. Such a sad disconnect. They both want each other and they both feel the other isn't there for them. From the very beginning they were just too far apart, as if they were separated by time or circumstance or perhaps miscommunication. He doesn't feel he could be any closer to her, at this time, because of the circumstances and the time issues, but he wants to give her some time. And I feel that she obviously wants to give him the chance because she came out of her circumstances to meet him and see how he was doing. If she didn't care, she wouldn't make such effort to check on him.
C'mon people! It's obvious! This song is about Jay Farrar! A.M. was relased right after Uncle Tupelo broke up. "Is it really punk rock, like the party line? Do you have to think about that? Can I give you some time?" Jay probabaly thought that Jeff was usurping his position as band leader and his songs were straying a little further from their roots as that little slapdash country punk band they used to be into something more sophisticated. I read that when Jay wanted to break up the band, Jeff was really hurt. So, "'Cause when I really needed you, you were gone" is Jeff's accusatory swipe at Jay. They were a good band together, but Jay was kind of an ass about the whole thing.
Anyway, that's my take. I also know that they played this in St. Louis a few years back (their first show in Jeff's hometown in a while) so a lot of people interpreted it as his love letter to St. Louis – the scene he grew up in and then left for greener pastures (St. Louis is not, outside of Tupelo and a handfull of other alt country bands, known for its support of indie bands),
it's like an effort made in vain... at least you can relate to the song though. Great album/ Band as well!