Ben Tibbetts Studio: Piano Performances and Original Music

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Far Away

I first ran into Paolo Tosti's song Far Away as a piano accompanist. I accompanied a couple of singers on it at UMass Amherst. I loved its text.

Far Away is about somebody who missed his lover and then welcomed her home, only to find that she no longer felt the same way. The idea is that first she was far away literally and then far away emotionally. This feeling will be familiar to most people who've gone through a slow breakup. Something is wrong but you can't put a finger on it; you're getting a cold shoulder in subtle ways that perhaps you second guess.

The problem was I always felt the music Tosti wrote for this was didn't fit the text, somehow. It seemed a little too chipper or something. So I rewrote the song with my own music, using his public domain text (listed above), for baritone with violin and cello. I think this music better captures the yearning quality of realizing you're no longer loved in quite the same way.

Sheet music for this piece is available to subscribers.

Text:

When far away,
I could but see you, dear,
As some sweet vision
Through a mist of tears.

My dreams were sad,
And yet I had no fear,
Though far away,
Far away.

In early spring
When you came home once more,
We rarely met,
Our ways lay far apart,

But still I knew
You loved me as before,
And life was joy.
Life was joy.

And now,
Although you are my own,
And ever near
You seem to be,

Doubt fills my soul.
'tis now I am alone.
Now, I am alone.

You're far away,
Far away.

In early spring,
When you came home once more,
We rarely met,
Our ways lay far apart,

But still I knew
You loved me as before
And life was joy.
Life was joy.

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