In "Far Away Eyes," Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger tells a story about driving through Bakersfield, California, on a Sunday morning, listening to gospel music on the radio as he's headed to see a girl. He said this really happened, and all he did to write the song was recall his experience.
Bakersfield's country and western scene (led by Buck Owens) was a big influence on this song, as well as the gospel programs on Los Angeles radio stations. In a 1978 interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Jagger said, "You know, when you drive through Bakersfield on a Sunday morning or Sunday evening, all the country music radio stations start broadcasting black gospel services live from LA. And that's what the song refers to. But the song's really about driving alone, listening to the radio." Asked if the girl in the song was a real one, Jagger replied, "Yeah, she's real, she's a real girl."
The twangiest song on the Some Girls album, "Far Away Eyes" was used as the B-side of a very different song: the disco-infused "Miss You," which was the album's first single and biggest hit.
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