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500 Miles

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(West)

Information:

500 Miles was written by Hedy West. This well-known ballad about a man who is painfully far away from home became a folk staple through Peter, Paul and Mary's version on their No. I debut album, Peter, Paul and Mary (1962), and country-singer Bobby Bare's crossover Top 10 hit from 1963. In 1989, 500 Miles was returned to the charts (No. 97) by The Hooters, a Philadelphia rock quintet, in an entirely new treatment. However, quieter renditions like The Kingston Trio's are closer to the true spirit of the song.

Elvis is believed to have recorded this song in 1966, supposedly at Graceland.

Lyrics:

If you miss the train I'm on
You will know that I am gone
You can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles
A hundred miles, a hundred miles, a hundred miles, a hundred miles
You can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles
Lord I'm one, Lord I'm two, Lord I'm three, Lord I'm four
Lord I'm five hundred miles away from home
Away from home, away from home, away from home, away from home
Lord I'm five hundred miles away from home
Not a shirt on my back, not a penny to my name
Lord I can't go back home this ole way
This ole way, this ole way, this ole way, this ole way
Lord I can't go back home this ole way

If you miss the train I'm on
You will know that I am gone
You can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles
A hundred miles, a hundred miles, a hundred miles, a hundred miles
You can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles

Where it was released:

First released in In A Private Moment »

LPs/CDs:

- In a Private Moment (2000) - FTD »

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