From Afar
Vance Joy Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴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
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 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
Ah that will be the way that we remain
Oh no no no
No no no no

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

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


Overall Meaning

The song From Afar by Vance Joy narrates the story of unrequited love that is fueled by the pain of suppressed emotions. The opening line, "You told me 'boy look the other way', you told me 'boy bite your tongue'" shows that the singer's friend has advised him to hide his feelings for the girl he loves. The refrain "that's just not the way that friends behave" hints that the singer's love for the girl may have jeopardized their friendship. Despite his friend's warnings, the singer remains attached to the girl who he adores from afar. The lines "I've been living on the crumbs of your love, And I'm starving now" indicate that he has been surviving on her fleeting attention and is now yearning for more.


The reference to "two falling sparks, one willing fool" portrays the singer's love story as unrequited as the girl he loves doesn't seem to share the same emotions. The repetition of the last stanza "It shouldn't come as a surprise, what I'm feeling, what I'm feeling now" repeatedly underscore the point that the singer's emotions are raw and real, and he is wearing his heart on his sleeve, despite the pain.


Line by Line Meaning

You told me 'boy look the other way'
You instructed me to turn away


You told me 'boy bite your tongue'
You advised me to remain silent


Yes that's not the way,
That behavior is not acceptable


Yeah that's not the way
Indeed, that is not the way


Ah that's just not the way that friends behave
Friends do not act like that


Ah that's just not the way that friends behave
Friends do not act like that


Oh no, no, no,
This is not good


No, no, no, no
Absolutely not


You lined me up
You arranged me


Across the room
On the opposite side of the room


Two falling sparks
Two people who are naturally attracted


One willing fool
One person willing to do anything for love


And I, I always knew
I was always aware that


That I would love you from afar
I would love you without ever being close


You told me 'boy hide those hands'
You commanded me to conceal my hands


Well I've been living on the crumbs of your love
I've been surviving on the little bits of love you provide


And I'm starving now
But now I'm starving for more


And that is just the way that we remain
And that is how things will stay between us


Ah that will be the way that we remain
We will continue to behave that way


Oh no no no
This is not good


No no no no
Absolutely not


It shouldn't come as a surprise
It's no surprise


What I'm feeling, what I'm feeling now
The way I currently feel


It shouldn't come as a surprise
It's no surprise


She got darling hazel eyes
She has beautiful hazel eyes


It shouldn't come as a surprise
It's no surprise


What I'm feeling, what I'm feeling now
The way I currently feel


It shouldn't come as a surprise
It's no surprise


What I'm feeling, what I'm feeling now
The way I currently feel


Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JAMES KEOGH

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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