“Plans of what our futures hold
Foolish lies of growing old
It seems we’re so invincible
The truth is so cold”

Avenged Sevenfold was formed in 1999 by 5 friends in high school, and is now one of the most successful bands in the world. They have released album upon album of brilliantly composed music showcasing their tremendous musical prowess while channeling deep and powerful emotions into their music.

The band is famous for their songwriting prowess, stellar vocals, incredible musicality and wacky stage names like vocalist M. Shadows, and guitarist Synyster Gates. Looking at their brilliant career spanning 30 years, it’s crazy to think that the band was once on the verge of never playing again following the death of their drummer Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan in 2009, while the band was still writing music for their 5th album. The Rev was the creative backbone of the band, the primary songwriter, and is still widely considered to be one of the best drummers and even musicians in the genre. Therefore, upon the death of their childhood friend, the band was unsure about their future. In the end, after hearing all of the music Sullivan had written for the next album, the band decided that their friend would have wanted them to continue. In his honor, they wrote So Far Away, a song about the struggle of carrying on with life after somebody close to you passes away.

Unlike most Avenged Sevenfold songs, So Far Away is more emotionally driven despite its terrific musicality and overall brilliant composition. Upon its release in 2011, it instantly became a fan favourite and is still played at most of their live shows in honour of their best friend. In place of Sullivan, the song features guest drummer Mike Portnoy, The Rev’s hero and inspiration, and the only man he said he would allow to sit behind his kit. It also features recording’s of Sullivan’s voice that occasionally interlace with the main vocals. It also features 2 brilliant solos from guitarist Synyster Gates who was the sole writer for the song.

I personally love this song for the same reason every other fan of Avenged Sevenfold loves the song. I think The Rev was an incredibly talented musician and an amazing person. And his untimely death was tragic to say the least. The song and music video perfectly captures the love the band members shared, and the pain that they felt upon Sullivan’s passing. It deals with death in a very grounded and real way. Loss is often seen as just that. Loss. No longer having someone in your life. But the reality of it is that, especially when it is someone very close to you, your life is no longer the same. It is easy to feel lost and uncertain about how you can continue on without them. So Far Away deals with the struggle of carrying on without somebody you love and finding the strength to carry on, knowing that you will see them again even though they may seem “so far away”.

Listen to the track here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7ry4cx6HfY

So Far Away

Never feared for anything
Never shamed but never free
A life that healed the broken heart with all that it could

Lived a life so endlessly
Saw beyond what others see
I tried to heal your broken heart with all that I could

Will you stay?
Will you stay away forever?

How do I live without the ones I love?
Time still turns the pages of the book it’s burned
Place and time always on my mind
I have so much to say but you’re so far away

Plans of what our futures hold
Foolish lies of growing old
It seems we’re so invincible
The truth is so cold

A final song, a last request
A perfect chapter laid to rest
Now and then I try to find
A place in my mind
Where you can stay
You can stay awake forever

How do I live without the ones I love?
Time still turns the pages of the book it’s burned
Place and time always on my mind
I have so much to say but you’re so far away

Sleep tight, I’m not afraid (not afraid)
The ones that we love are here with me
Lay away a place for me (place for me)
‘Cause as soon as I’m done I’ll be on my way
To live eternally

How do I live without the ones I love?
Time still turns the pages of the book it’s burned
Place and time always on my mind
And the light you left remains
But it’s so hard to stay
When I have so much to say and you’re so far away

I love you, you were ready
The pain is strong and urges rise
But I’ll see you, when He lets me
Your pain is gone, your hands untied

So far away (so far)
And I need you to know
So far away (so far)
And I need you to, need you to know