Far Away Eyes by The Rolling Stones Meaning: The Sarcastic Story Behind the Song

What Is Far Away Eyes by The Rolling Stones About?

“Far Away Eyes” by The Rolling Stones is about sarcasm, religious hypocrisy, and not believing everything you hear just because it is being said with confidence.

The song is told through this exaggerated country character who is driving through Bakersfield, listening to gospel music and a preacher on the radio. At first, it sounds like a funny country story, but the more you listen to it, the more it feels like The Rolling Stones are poking fun at the kind of religious message that turns faith into a sales pitch.

The preacher in the song is not just offering comfort. He is basically telling people that if they send money, their prayers will be heard and their dreams will come true. That is where the sarcasm really comes in. Mick Jagger delivers the story with this over-the-top country drawl, almost like he is playing someone who is buying into the whole thing while also showing how ridiculous it sounds.

I do not think “Far Away Eyes” is meant to be a sad song. It feels more like The Rolling Stones using humor to point out hypocrisy. It is not necessarily making fun of faith itself. It is more about questioning people who use religion to take advantage of others, especially when they make big promises to people who may already be down on their luck.

The title “Far Away Eyes” could also point to someone who seems distant, searching, or easily pulled toward something bigger than themselves. That connects back to the preacher on the radio and the song’s sarcasm toward cult-like religious sales pitches or manipulative spiritual leaders. The Stones seem to be pointing out how dangerous it can be when people promise love, salvation, or easy answers to someone who is already looking for something to believe in. The song sounds like an old country-gospel story, but The Stones twist it into something much more sly and sarcastic.

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Quick Details

Artist: The Rolling Stones
Song: Far Away Eyes
Album: Some Girls
Released: 1978
Written By: Mick Jagger and Keith Richards
Produced By: The Glimmer Twins
Genre: Country rock / Bakersfield country influence
Length: 4:24
Notable Instrument: Ronnie Wood’s pedal steel guitar

The Story Behind Far Away Eyes

The story behind “Far Away Eyes” goes back to Mick Jagger driving through Bakersfield, California and hearing gospel broadcasts on country radio. He later explained that the song was really about driving alone and listening to the radio.

That background explains the whole feel of the song. It sounds like something coming out of a car radio in the middle of a long drive. You get the preacher, the country setting, the lonely road, and the strange mix of religion and romance all wrapped into one exaggerated story.

The Bakersfield connection is important too. Bakersfield country had a rougher, more direct sound than the smoother Nashville style. The Rolling Stones had already shown plenty of love for American roots music, including blues, country, and gospel, and “Far Away Eyes” brings that country side of the band right to the front.

But what makes this song interesting is that The Stones are not playing it completely straight. They are good enough to make it sound like a real country song, but Mick Jagger’s delivery tells you there is a wink behind it. He is not just singing the story. He is acting it out.

There is also a Gram Parsons connection around the Stones’ country influence. Gram Parsons was close with Keith Richards and helped bring country music even deeper into the band’s world. Jagger later said Gram helped him sing country music, but he did not think “Far Away Eyes” was specifically influenced by him. That makes sense because this song feels like The Rolling Stones taking country music, gospel radio, and their own sense of sarcasm and turning it into something only they would do.

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Far Away Eyes Song Review

Musically, “Far Away Eyes” works because the band plays it better than the joke alone would require.

Ronnie Wood’s pedal steel guitar is one of the best parts of the song. It gives the track that classic country sound, and it makes the whole thing feel more authentic. Even though Mick is clearly exaggerating the vocal delivery, the pedal steel gives the song a real country atmosphere.

Keith Richards fits perfectly in this kind of loose country-rock setting. His guitar playing gives the song that relaxed, rolling feel without making it sound too polished. The rhythm is simple, but it has that Stones groove where everything feels casual in the best way.

Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman keep the song steady and easygoing. They do not overplay it, and that is exactly what the track needs. The song moves like a car cruising down the road while the radio keeps feeding the narrator this strange mix of religion, promises, and romantic advice.

Mick Jagger is obviously the center of the song. His vocal is exaggerated, but that is the whole point. He sounds like he is doing a country character, but he is also using that character to make the story funnier and sharper. The preacher part especially feels like pure Stones sarcasm. It is funny because the narrator seems to go along with it, but the listener can hear how absurd the message is.

That is where the song becomes more than just The Rolling Stones doing country. It is not only a parody of country music. It is also a little jab at people who use religion as a performance or a business. The band wraps that idea in humor, which makes it easier to listen to, but the point is still there.

On Some Girls, “Far Away Eyes” also gives the album a different flavor. That album jumps between rock, disco, punk energy, blues, and country, but somehow it all fits. “Far Away Eyes” shows how flexible The Rolling Stones were. They could take a country song, make it funny, make it sarcastic, and still make it sound like a song they genuinely knew how to play.

Read about some of the other country-rock songs by The Stones here:

Wild Horses by The Rolling Stones Meaning: Love That Refuses to Let Go

Dead Flowers Meaning: The Dark Truth Behind The Rolling Stones Song

Final Thoughts

“Far Away Eyes” is one of those Rolling Stones songs that shows how fearless Mick Jagger was about diving fully into different characters.

The song is funny, sarcastic, and full of that classic Stones attitude, but it also works because the band plays it so well. Ronnie Wood’s pedal steel gives it a real country feel, Keith Richards brings the loose country-rock groove, and Mick turns the whole thing into a full performance.

That fearlessness is part of what made him Mick Jagger. He was not afraid to exaggerate, act, poke fun, or completely throw himself into a role if it served the song. On “Far Away Eyes,” he leans all the way into this country-radio character, and instead of sounding like a throwaway joke, it becomes one of the most memorable parts of Some Girls.

That is what makes the song work so well. It is The Rolling Stones using country music, sharp sarcasm, and great musicianship to point out hypocrisy while still making the song fun to listen to.

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Far Away Eyes FAQ

What is “Far Away Eyes” by The Rolling Stones about?

“Far Away Eyes” is about a man driving through Bakersfield, listening to a preacher on the radio, and getting caught up in a strange mix of religion, money, romance, and easy answers. The song uses sarcasm to point out how people can be pulled in by someone who sounds convincing.

Is “Far Away Eyes” making fun of religion?

I do not think the song is making fun of faith itself. It feels more like The Rolling Stones are calling out religious hypocrisy, especially the kind of preacher or spiritual figure who promises people happiness, love, or salvation if they just buy into what they are saying.

What does the title “Far Away Eyes” mean?

The title could describe someone who seems distant, searching, or looking for something to believe in. That connects back to the preacher on the radio and the idea of cult-like religious sales pitches or manipulative spiritual leaders who offer easy answers to people who may be vulnerable.

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