The Distance (song)
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"The Distance" is a song by the American alternative rock band Cake. Released in 1997, "The Distance" was the first single from their second album, Fashion Nugget, and is among their biggest hits. It was written by the band's guitarist at the time, Greg Brown.
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[edit] Instrumentation
The song is based around Cake's standard guitar, bass and drums setup, with flourishes of solo trumpet, and John McCrea's characteristically deadpan, driving vocals. The song does not employ McCrea's rhythm guitar, but does feature some overlaid synthesised sounds.
[edit] Lyrics
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"The Distance" features an unusually vivid use of imagery for a pop song, conjuring up a scene of a lone racer, single-mindedly continuing to race into the night, long after the victory has been secured by another competitor and the stadium is emptied. The metaphor is apparently mixed, mainly referring to a motor race "Fuel burning fast on an empty tank", but featuring the repeated line "He's fighting and biding and riding on his horse". Possible explanations being that he is on a motorcycle, which are occasionally likened to horses, an oblique reference to horsepower, or simply the fact that the songwriter is comparing riding a horse to driving a car.
It can also be noted that it makes some reference to a running song, most likely a Cross-Country race. More notably "Crouched at the starting line" and "Racing and Pacing, and plotting the course", which could possibly referring to the pacing of runners during a race and when runners will 'plot' the course before a race.
In the music video you will notice that it's a man in a business suit working in an office who then takes off running in a 'race'. Also 'She's all alone', could be a reference to a family or wife which he has abandoned in his need to 'win'. This song could be a reference to corporate business and a man too focused on promotion, on being the best.
Also noted in the video, as the man is running, he is also spotted in a crouch stance, as if he was crouched before a race, further proving the race theory.
Furthermore, it is commonly heard that this song actually has a hidden meaning referencing masturbation. "But he's driving and striving an hugging the turns/And thinking of someone for who he still burns" refers to the actual action with a specific woman in mind. "No trophies, no flowers, no flashbulbs, no wine/He's haunted by something he cannot define/Bowel shaking earthquakes of doubt and remorse/Assail him, impale him with monster truck force" refers to what he gets out of the action, as well as how he morally feels about what he's doing. And "In his mind he's still driving, still making the grade/She's hoping in time that her memories will fade" explains possibly an ex-lovers desire to forget about their relationship, while he is still holding on to the sexual aspect of the relationship.
[edit] Single Release
The CD single was released in only one form, featuring a cover of Kathy Dee's "Multiply the Heartaches," a live version of "Jolene," and "It's Coming Down."
[edit] Trivia
For the last 2 years, the song has been used in the TV advert for the Powers (whiskey) Irish Grand National, which takes place in Dublin, Ireland every Easter Monday
[edit] External link
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