Long Ago, Far Away (Witmark Demo - 1962)

Song Meaning

The lyrics present a stark historical record of human suffering. Each verse details an atrocity, from crucifixion to slavery to war. Yet, a recurring refrain insists these horrors are "Long ago, far away" and "don't happen nowadays." This creates an immediate, unsettling irony, challenging the listener to consider the present. The core tension lies in the stark contrast between the vivid historical accounts and the dismissive, almost naive, refrain. The lyrics repeatedly juxtapose profound human cruelty with a societal shrug. This conflict highlights a willful blindness to ongoing injustices, as the narrator appears to challenge the comforting illusion that humanity has evolved beyond its darker impulses, such as the dragging "chains of slaves." The most striking craft element is the relentless use of irony through the repeated refrain. Phrases like "don't happen nowadays" become increasingly hollow with each new example of historical brutality. The addition of "do they?" in verses 2 and 7 transforms a statement into a direct, challenging question, forcing the listener to confront the uncomfortable parallels with contemporary society. This rhetorical device is incredibly effective, turning a simple assertion into a biting critique. The power of these lyrics lies in their cumulative impact. By cataloging diverse forms of human cruelty—religious persecution, chattel slavery, global warfare, economic disparity, and personal violence—the lyrics suggest a cyclical, rather than linear, progression of human nature. The stark, almost journalistic recounting of these events, paired with the dismissive refrain, compels the listener to recognize that while the specific contexts may change, the underlying patterns of injustice and suffering regrettably endure. It's a subtle but potent call for introspection.