Many the Miles by Sara Bareilles Lyrics Meaning – Unpacking the Journey of the Heart

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for Sara Bareilles's Many the Miles at Lyrics.org.

Lyrics

There’s too many things that I haven’t done yet
There’s too many sunsets I haven’t seen
You can’t waste the day wishing it’d slow down
You would’ve thought by now
I’d have learned something

I made up my mind when I was a young girl
I’ve been given this one world
I won’t worry it away, no
Now and again I lose sight of the good life
I get stuck in a low light
But then love comes in

How far do I have to go to get to you
Many the miles
Many the miles
How far do I have to go to get to you
Many the miles
But send me the miles and I’ll be happy to follow you, love

I do what I can wherever I end up
To keep giving my good love
And spreading it around
‘Cause I’ve had my fair share of take care and goodbyes
I’ve learned how to cry
And I’m better for that

Sing, how far do I have to go to get to you
Many the miles
Many the miles
How far do I have to go to get to you
Many the miles
Send me the miles and I’ll be happy to, yeah

Red letter day and I’m in a blue mood
Wishing that blue would just carry me away
I’ve been talking about
Don’t know if it’s helping or not
But surely something has got to, got to, got to give
‘Cause I can’t keep waiting to live

How far do I have to go to get to you
Many the miles
Many the miles
How far do I have to go to get to you
Many the miles
But send me the miles and I’ll be happy to yeah
How far do I have to go to get to you
Many the miles
Many the miles
How far do I have to go to get to you
Many the miles
Many the miles
I’ve been talking to God, don’t know if it’s helping or not
Many the miles
Many the miles
How far do I have to go to get to you
Many the miles
Ooh, send me the miles and I’ll be happy to
Follow you, love

There’s too many things I haven’t done yet
There’s too many sunsets I haven’t seen

In the tapestry of modern songwriting, certain melodies weave intricate tales of the human experience, transcending mere lyrics to touch the soul. Sara Bareilles’s ‘Many the Miles’ is a journey through life’s endless quest, not for places, but for connection and the intangible fuel that drives us—love. The song, embedded with life lessons and a quest for something more profound, has since its release become a testament to the relentless pursuit of what lies beyond the horizon of contentment.

The artistry of Bareilles’s storytelling culminates in a track that does more than narrate; it invites listeners into introspection and a shared odyssey. She chronicles an individual’s searching spirit against the backdrop of the relentless tick of time. The story of ‘Many the Miles’ is about the tension between seeking and finding, losing and rediscovering, and the miles we must travel—literally and metaphorically—to reach the destination we yearn for.

The Odyssey of the Heart: Unraveling Sara Bareilles’s Quest for Love

At its core, ‘Many the Miles’ is about the pursuit of love and understanding, a universal human desire that defies boundaries. It speaks candidly of an individual’s longing to connect with another soul, no matter the distance or obstacles that might lie between. Bareilles’s lyrics are suffused with a sense of urgency, a craving to experience life in all its fullness before the sun sets on unseized opportunities.

Her voice—both literal and metaphorical—is a clarion call to those who listen to not ‘waste the day wishing it’d slow down.’ This portentous lyric implies a deeper understanding that life is fleeting and every moment a treasure that beckons to be lived fully. The line is an evocative reminder that despite all we’ve learned, our grasp of ‘something’ remains elusive, fueling our journey onward.

Lyrical Landscapes: The Imagery that Paints a Thousand Miles

Throughout the tune, Bareilles paints emotional landscapes with a masterstroke of words. Take the poignancy of ‘Red letter day and I’m in a blue mood / Wishing that blue would just carry me away.’ Here, the juxtaposition of ‘red letter day,’ symbolizing significant, joyful times, against the ‘blue mood,’ a metaphor for sadness, encapsulates the bittersweet tang of existence—the highs and lows we traverse.

The interplay of colors symbolizes the tension within the narrative—our protagonist is caught between cherished memories and current sorrows, hoping to be transported beyond her present state. It is a portrait not only of yearning but of seeking transcendence amidst life’s pendulum swings.

The Hidden Tuneful Testament Within ‘Many the Miles’

There’s a hidden depth to ‘Many the Miles’ that goes unnoticed at first pass. Bareilles isn’t just singing about the journey toward someone else; she’s serenading the journey within. ‘I made up my mind when I was a young girl / I’ve been given this one world / I won’t worry it away,’ she declares, hinting at the intrinsic motivation to live authentically and with intention.

This sentiment runs as an undercurrent throughout the song, crafting a personal credo by which the protagonist resolves to navigate her path. It is the unseen emotional miles, the meandering internal roads that lead to self-discovery and empowerment, which Bareilles conjures with her penetrating lyrics.

Songs to Cry, Love, and Learn By: The Memorable Lines that Resonate

‘I’ve learned how to cry / And I’m better for that.’ In these few words, Bareilles encapsulates a powerful life lesson—that vulnerability and the ability to express emotion are not weaknesses but strengths. This line stands out for its raw honesty and reflection on personal growth through adversity.

These words resonate long after the song fades, serving as an enduring reminder of the universality of heartache and the beauty of the healing process. It is in the remembrance and the lived experience of these lyrics that listeners find solace and kinship.

The Eloquent Plea of a Soul’s Song: ‘How Far Do I Have to Go to Get to You?’

‘How far do I have to go to get to you?’—a question posed as a haunting refrain becomes the song’s searching soul. It’s an eloquent plea that captures the longing we’ve all felt at some time: the longing for connection, understanding, and the answer to whether the pursuit of love is infinite.

This hopeful inquiry is both a personal contemplation and a rhetorical question to the universe. It represents the song’s thematic pulse—our inherent propensity to chase after what matters most to us, regardless of the physical and metaphorical distance we have to traverse. This desire, this unrelenting drive, is sung with an earnestness that mirrors our collective human experience.