Somewhere Far Along
By: Beck Hansen
Written by: Beck Hansen

Alternate Titles:

a.k.a. Regular Song

Versions:
  1. Somewhere Far Along
    Available on K Records 2.
  2.  
 
Lyrics:
Somewhere Far Along [Version (a)]:

[From June 19 1996 KCRW version]

I just got put down in the ashes of a backwash town
Black debris or burned-out trees blows out over the sunken seas
Somewhere far along, singing a regular song
Dead machines, frozen dreams, this state where I belong

I'm loose inside my skin and all the walls are wearing thin
Shoot out all the traffic lights on your way to the dead of night
Somewhere far along, singing a regular song
Dead machines, frozen dreams, they don't bother me at all

You're better off alone, troubles find their own...
 
The Song:

Beck made one of his yearly stops to perform at KCRW in Santa Monica on June 19 1996. This was a day after Odelay was finally released, but for the most part, Beck just plays some new unreleased folk songs.

Most bootlegs refer to this as "Regular Song," though Beck announces right at the start that, "This one doesn't have a title," and we now know the song has the name "Somewhere Far Along." Anyway, as Beck began the third verse, he tails off, ending the song prematurely. "I'm gonna hang it on that 'cause I couldn't remember the next word. . .no, it's not gonna come back," he explains.

Beck explained afterwards that it was a couple of years old, he just hasn't put it out yet -- "that's the preview of what the song is gonna be. It's actually gonna be a 45-minute tone poem. Actually, it's a symphonic thing. It's got 68 verses in it. Those are the first two and a half."

The song was, we know now, originally recorded for inclusion on the second K Records album, which has yet to be released. I had written here how much the song sounds like Odelay, containing similar images with that albums folksier songs. Makes me even more curious to know what went down on those other K outtakes! I wouldn't be surprised if much of Odelay was borne there.
 
Live:

Played live 3 times:
Earliest known live version: June 16, 1996
Latest known live version: February 10, 1997

A few days before doing the song most famously on KCRW, Beck played the song on another radio program, Modern Rock Live. This version was a little more complete than KCRW. The first verse refers to an "asphalt" town. Here's the final verse. See "Hotwax" for more about "the captain's clothes."
Troubles find their own, you're better off alone
Nobody knows the coupon clones, the stowaways in the captain's clothes
Somewhere far along, singing a regular song
Dead machines, frozen drams, they don't bother me at all
Beck pulled this song out of nowhere once again on February 10 1997. His entire acoustic set is full rare improvisations -- a new version of "Ozzy," an spontaneously aborted "It's All In Your Mind," and another new song nobody knows -- so yet another one does not hurt. :-)

Beck rearranges the lyrics a bit, changes some, but for the most part, it's the same song as what was heard on KCRW in 1996. This also has the verse he began to sing (but couldn't remember) at KCRW, which is nice. Too bad the other 65 verses are lost! The first line is a "bankrupt town," the third variation of the phrase in three different versions! It's third verse (and little coda) is slightly different from the Modern Rock Live version also. I like the "No one knows where the wind blows" line better than the "coupon clones" version.
You're better off alone 'cause troubles find their own
No one knows where the wind blows, the stowaway in the captain's clothes
Somewhere far along, singing a regular song
Black debris and burned-out trees, they don't bother me at all

Somewhere far along, just singing a regular song
Black debris and burned-out trees and no sun


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