This song came to me while I was running, training for a half marathon, miles and miles and miles and miles... It tells the story of us meeting for the first time. When I first taught it to Randon, he said I couldn't change the key in the middle of a verse like that. Sorry, I told him, but that's the way the song goes. He also mentioned that there were a lot of chord changes. I claim I didn't write those – they were his doing! I didn't think much of it, because, as usual, he figured it out and it sounded fine. Then a while later we were playing it live – with me singing and him on guitar – and our friend Bob, who is a wonderfully experienced rhythm guitarist, came up to Randon afterwards and commented on his amazing guitar skills: “There were a lot of chord changes!”
“I know!” Randon replied. They talked about the new chords Randon had had to learn, and how after the key change, the chords are all bar chords, so it gets tiring because the song is so long (I don't know a lot about guitar, but I know bar chords are tiring – I can't play any bar chords). I'm glad Randon got some real appreciation from another guitarist for what he'd done!
On the album, the backup vocals move away from each other before the chord change and toward each other afterwards, just like we did. I was worried that the multiple choruses at the end would become too repetitive, but Randon made it work musically and I don't get bored listening to it at all. This song makes me happy!
lyrics
We both grew up in the same small place
I never laid eyes upon your face
But that's just as well
We couldn't have cared back then
Separated by only a mile
We both had different things makin' us smile
And it wasn't each other
We may as well have been...
Miles and miles and miles and miles away (miles and miles away)
I've been miles and miles and miles and miles
To get where I am today
Miles and miles and miles and miles away (miles and miles away)
How could we have known back then
That our paths would cross someday?
We went on about our lives
I took a husband and you took a wife
And we both moved away
And the years went past
I created life twice and you had a kid
And I can sure say I'm glad that we did
I love bein' Mom
But they grow up so fast
Miles and miles and miles and miles away (miles and miles away)
I've been miles and miles and miles and miles
To get where I am today
Our hearts were miles and miles and miles and miles away (miles and miles away)
How could we have known back then
That our paths would cross someday?
Life got hard even though we tried
Along the way both of our marriages died
And we both were alone
And both so far from home
Miles and miles and miles and miles away (miles and miles away)
I've been miles and miles and miles and miles
To get where I am today
Our hearts were miles and miles and miles and miles away (miles and miles away)
How could we have known back then
That our paths would cross someday?
Then one night hangin' out on Facebook
We met on a wall; we were two lucky ducks
And we hit it off
There was no question 'bout it
We made plans to meet up close
Guess we both thought we had nothin' to lose
So we went to the desert
And that's where we started
Miles and miles and miles and miles away (miles and miles away)
We traveled miles and miles and miles and miles
To meet each other that day
Miles and miles and miles and miles away (miles and miles away)
All of our friends wondered if maybe
We should be locked away
One week together and we couldn't let go
We see what it means when they say you just know
Yeah we fell in love
Oh we had no doubt
A long distance love makes it hard to hold on
But it's much better than havin' you gone
I want you in my life
We'll always work it out
Though we're miles and miles and miles and miles away (miles and miles away)
My heart feels close to yours though we're physically
Miles and miles away
Miles and miles and miles and miles away (miles and miles away)
I look forward to a time
When I can see you each and every day
Miles and miles and miles and miles away (miles and miles away)
I ran miles and miles and miles and miles
Thinkin' about you today
Miles and miles and miles and miles away (miles and miles away)
I look forward to a time
When I can see you each and every day
Miles and miles and miles and miles away (miles and miles away)
Randon Myles and miles and miles and miles
I'm thinkin' about you today
Miles and miles and miles and miles away (miles and miles away)
I look forward to a time
When I can see you each and every day
Miles and miles and miles and miles away (miles and miles away)
My heart feels close to yours though we're physically
Miles and miles away
Miles and miles and miles and miles away (miles and miles away)
I look forward to a time
When I can see you each and every day
If you have a fondness for expertly wrought roots-rock with sharp lyrics and aching vocals, look no further—“Strangers” is for you. Bandcamp New & Notable Jan 8, 2022
The latest from Jessica Pratt retains the sense of mystery that characterized her previous albums, adding expansive arrangements. Bandcamp New & Notable Jan 6, 2019
