Five Hundred Miles Away from Home - chords, tab and comments
This song made famous by Bobby Bare, and in many ways a commercial international breakthrough for country music. It pestered hit lists throughout the world, and along with Mel Tills' "Detroit City", it made Bobby Bare a pop artist. But he didn't write the song. He had some influence, and Hedy West and Charlie Williams put new words and arrangement to the traditional "500 Miles", and came away with it. There was nobody alive to sue. The song and theme is adapted, and they did a good job. The song has been recorded by Bill Anderson, Glen Campbell, Jerry Reed, Priestie Boys, Lonnie Donegan, Gene Vincent, Joe Simon and maybe a lot of others: in 1995 Reba McEntire cut a final version, adding a lost verse; excluding Bare's reciting part. My lyrics combine them.
A
teardrops fell on mama's note
F#m
when I read the things she wrote
Bm Bm7 E
she said "we miss you son, we love you: come on home"
A
well I didn't have to pack
F#m
I had it all right on my back
Bm Bm7 D A A7
now I'm five hundred miles away from home
D
away from home away from home
Bm
cold and tired and all alone
Em G D ... E
yes I'm five hundred miles away from home