Long Distance
Story Behind The Song by Andy Cairns (Sep 3rd, 2004)
This started at home on my four track like a cross between Bulldog Front by Fugazi and the middle eight of One Armed Scissor by At The Drive In. It was quite ‘full on’ during the early days, but when I put it to tape I decided to slow it down.
I had a vocal melody but no lyrics. A few days later I was having a shitty day and couldn’t get my mind to stay still long enough for anything to occupy it. I remembered an old English teacher of mine who used to love going for walks and had a poem about er, going for walks.
With nothing to lose I went to a park in nearby Milton and cleared my head. I ended up with a song about going for a walk. I remembered the opening lines of the poem, “I started early, took my dog and visited the sea.” I Googled it, it’s a poem by Emily Dickinson.
During the rehearsal of the song in Derby we felt that we didn’t want the song to stray too far into ‘ballad’ territory so Neil added some tribal-type drumming and Michael some punchy bass.
The chorus is inspired by the notion of shaking up your life if it’s getting too stale. Shake up your routine. Go out your front door and instead of turning your usual route, go the other way. Or something like that. Anyway, I think the music has a yearning feel to it.
Read the story behind the next song on this album.
Lyrics
I like cold mornings
They keep me sharp
Forget the rain
Forget the car
And leave behind all communication
All the pieces
In front of me
I have this place
All to myself
I'm not asking much
Just a little space for my head
I start today, I drive the other way
I start today, I drive the other way
I start today, I drive the other way
I start today, I drive the other way
A simple lake
Dirt tracks for days
I'm breathing clean
My eyes feel bathed
I've hit the wall too many times now
I start today, I drive the other way
I start today, I drive the other way
I start today, I drive the other way
I start today, I drive the other way
I start today
I start today
I start today
I start today
I start today, I drive the other way
(and if it makes you happy, it doesn't make me sorry)
I start today, I drive the other way
(and if it makes you happy, it doesn't make me sorry)
I start today, I drive the other way
(and if it makes you happy, it doesn't make me sorry)
I start today, I drive the other way
(and if it makes you happy)