‘From Afar’ was the debut single from Vance Joy’s 2014 album Dream Your Life Away. It’s a pining portrait of unrequited love that kicks into another gear during its yearning outro.
The song was eclipsed by the success of second single ‘Riptide,’ which became the longest-charting single in Joy’s home country of Australia and enjoyed worldwide success.
I think I’ve listened to this album only once. I love ‘Riptide,’ though, and this song is a winner as well. Might be worth a revisit.
You told me, “Boy, look the other way”
You told me, “Boy, bite your tongue”
Yes, that’s not the way
Yeah, that’s not the way
Ah, that’s just not the way that friends behave
Ah, that’s just not the way that friends behave
Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
[Chorus]
You lined me up across the room
Two falling sparks, one willing fool
And I, I always knew
That I would love you from afar
[Verse 2]
You told me, “Boy, look the other way”
You told me, “Boy, hide those hands”
Well, I’ve been living on the crumbs of your love
And I’m starving now
And that is just the way that we remain
Oh, that will be the way that we remain
Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
[Chorus]
You lined me up across the room
Two falling sparks, one willing fool
And I, I always knew
That I would love you from afar
You lined me up across the room
Two falling sparks, one willing fool
And I, I always knew
That I would love you from afar
[Outro]
It shouldn’t come as a surprise
What I’m feeling, what I’m feeling now
It shouldn’t come as a surprise
She got darling hazel eyes
It shouldn’t come as a surprise
What I’m feeling, what I’m feeling now
It shouldn’t come as a surprise
What I’m feeling, what I’m feeling now
It shouldn’t come as a surprise
What I’m feeling, what I’m feeling now
It shouldn’t come as a surprise
What I’m feeling, what I’m feeling now
Meet Me In Montauk 
Always love me some Vance Joy 🙂
I’m sure Maddie would agree it’s worth a second listen.