Julie Gold’s much covered song ‘From A Distance’ speaks of us mortal humans as “instruments” and imagines a future with “no guns, no bombs, no diseases and no hungry mouths to feed”. The fact that “God is watching us from a distance” is intended as a consolation for all the troubled times on Earth and to engender the belief that such a dream is possible.
Nanci Griffith’s interpretation of the song is so full of passion and feeling it almost persuades me to put my Atheism on hold and say Amen and glory Hallelujah.
Watch:
It almost persuades me but I got things into clearer perspective after enduring hammy and egocentric readings of the same tune by Bette Midler and Cliff Richard (I’ll spare you the links – just be forewarned that they exist!). Continue reading
