long distance relationship songs

January 5, 2004 2:52 PM

Any suggestions for songs about long distance relationships?
posted by Raze2k to human relations (38 comments total)

867-9309
posted by thomcatspike at 2:54 PM on January 5, 2004

Destination Venus by the Rezillos.
posted by thirteen at 2:58 PM on January 5, 2004

Such Great Heights, by the Postal Service.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 3:00 PM on January 5, 2004

thirteen - That is a great song. I love the Rezillos. Man or Astroman covered that song, as well.

I think it's 867-5309.
posted by drobot at 3:08 PM on January 5, 2004

oof: "5", you're right drobot.
posted by thomcatspike at 3:14 PM on January 5, 2004

Someday by Concrete Blonde
posted by oh posey at 3:16 PM on January 5, 2004

Radar Love.
posted by gottabefunky at 3:17 PM on January 5, 2004

The Letter
posted by adamrice at 3:20 PM on January 5, 2004

"So Far Away," Dire Straits.
"Telefone (Long Distance Love Affair)," Sheena Easton.
posted by staggernation at 3:24 PM on January 5, 2004

Missing You - John Waite
So Far Away From Me - Dire Straits
So Far Away - Carole King
Faithfully - Journey

*ahem*

Sorry about that last one.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 3:24 PM on January 5, 2004

Oleta Adams "Get Here." Very lite, but heart-felt.
posted by answergrape at 3:46 PM on January 5, 2004

Beyond the Sea (Royal Crown Revue version)
Swingin' on the Moon, by Mel Torme
What a Wonderful World (Joey Ramone version)
posted by Smart Dalek at 3:51 PM on January 5, 2004

while it was a disappointing album, the new death cab for cutie, "transatlanticism", might as well be a concept album about long distance relationships. if it's not. i haven't kept up with my pitchfork newswire.

also the song "bells on" by sloan is a depressing but great long-distance romance song. although maybe my standards are a bit off.
posted by onthestereo at 3:52 PM on January 5, 2004

Freebird!
(i'm sorry. truly, truly sorry.)
posted by keswick at 4:03 PM on January 5, 2004

Pretenders, 2000 Miles (also a great Christmas song)
posted by kirkaracha at 4:27 PM on January 5, 2004

And let's not forget You Belong to Me, written by Pee Wee King, covered by like, everyone in the world.
posted by Hildago at 4:37 PM on January 5, 2004

Million miles away- Plimsouls
posted by thomcatspike at 4:47 PM on January 5, 2004

while it was a disappointing album

I disagree wholeheartedly and have nothing else to say on the matter.
posted by The God Complex at 4:52 PM on January 5, 2004

"Far, Far Away" by Wilco from Being There

"The Long Cut" by Uncle Tupelo from Anodyne

"So Far Away" by Carole King from Tapestry

"Long Distance Call" by David Gray from A New Day at Midnight

"I Get Along Without You Very Well" by Red Norvo & His Orchestra, sung by Terry Allen. Also by sung others, including Chet Baker on "The Definitive Chet Baker." Despite the title, the lyrics are all about the times when he doesn't get along without her very well. I like the Baker version very, very much.

"Until You Came Along" by Golden Smog from Weird Tales. Not a long-distance song, per se, but a song about commitment.

"Waiting At The End Of The Road," sung by many people. The version I have is by Frankie Laine on "Blue Skies: The Irving Berlin Songbook."

"Can't Get You Out of My System" by the Sherpas. Not a long-distance love song, either, but about the difficulty of separation, though perhaps about after a relationship is over. A very pretty song.
posted by Mo Nickels at 5:18 PM on January 5, 2004

Faraway You by Marah.
posted by dobbs at 5:23 PM on January 5, 2004

Memphis, Tennessee by Elvis Presley or Chuck Berry
posted by Frank Grimes at 5:34 PM on January 5, 2004

Trying to get to you by Elvis Presley, excellently sung on his '68 Comeback Special.
posted by planetkyoto at 6:13 PM on January 5, 2004

Bells On by Sloan.
posted by Monster_Zero at 6:14 PM on January 5, 2004

Missing You--John Waite (cheesy but apropos)

Without You Here -- Squeeze (mmm!)
posted by amberglow at 6:18 PM on January 5, 2004

oops...i missed crash's post

but tons more here
posted by amberglow at 6:27 PM on January 5, 2004

Long distance, the Tom Waits way! [enjoy with whiskey]

Johnsburg, Illinois

Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis (no offense to yer lady)

Martha

Telephone Call From Istanbul

Shore Leave

...there are so many...
posted by scarabic at 7:13 PM on January 5, 2004

Canadian Boyfriend by the All Girl Summer Fun Band is cute.

"Canadian boyfriend
(Canadian boyfrieeeend)
Wanna change my citizenship..."

Also, 2000 Light Years Away from Green Day's first album is sweet in a pop punk kind of way.
posted by bubukaba at 7:30 PM on January 5, 2004

Here's a subject near and dear to my heart, though a number of my favorites have been mentioned. I would add:

Keep Me In Your Heart by Warren Zevon (potentially annoyingly repetitious, but somehow I think its sweet)

The Promise by Tracy Chapman

10,000 miles by Mary Chapin Carpenter (VERY heavy)

Orange Sky by Alexi Murdoch (maybe a stretch, but it works for me)

I'm Gonna Be by the Proclaimers (also perhaps a stretch, but the last four lines sell it, and it's much too fun and hopeful not to be mentioned)

I Guess That's Why They Call it The Blues by Elton John

If You're Here When I Get Back by John Eddie (it's too recent/obscure to be found on mp3 searches, though it can be heard on 92.5 WXRV in NH/ME/Mass if that's at all helpful)
posted by nelleish at 8:00 PM on January 5, 2004

I can't believe I forgot Shore Leave. It's like, my favorite song.
posted by Hildago at 8:40 PM on January 5, 2004

What, 29 comments in and nobody's mentioned (Don't Go Back to) Rockville?
posted by jjg at 9:29 PM on January 5, 2004

and what about "i would walk 500 hundred miles..."
posted by triv at 12:02 AM on January 6, 2004

Scorpion's No One Like You
is my personal fav.
posted by woil at 1:17 AM on January 6, 2004

Song to the Siren - This Mortal Coil
posted by yonderboy at 6:40 AM on January 6, 2004

There's an ocean between us, my love
An ocean of powder and dust
Somehow I was blind, but now I can see
As you walk thru this world, Rosalie
Every step is one closer to me
Through this love we will find
What the others can't see
That those letters are mine
I love you Rosalie (free download)
posted by blueshammer at 7:57 AM on January 6, 2004

Atlantic by Eddie from Ohio.
posted by bondcliff at 8:02 AM on January 6, 2004

"I'm Writing a Letter" - Smoking Popes
posted by fidelity at 8:31 AM on January 6, 2004

36 comments and nobody's mentioned "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter"?

I'm gonna sit right down and write myself a letter,
And make believe it came from you,
I'm gonna right words oh, so sweet,
They're gonna knock me off my feet,
A lot of kisses on the bottom,
I'll be glad I got 'em!

I'm gonna smile and say, "I hope you're feeling better,"
And close with love the way you do;
I'm gonna sit right down and write myself a letter,
And make believe it came from you!
posted by languagehat at 9:01 AM on January 6, 2004

"I'm Gonna Mail Myself to You" by Woody Guthrie.
posted by maurice at 9:42 AM on January 6, 2004