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Far Away Eyes shows The Rolling Stones at their most playful, blending humor and heart with an authentic country sound. Recorded in 1978 for Some Girls, the song was a wink to Bakersfield, California—the birthplace of a raw, anti-Nashville country style shaped by Merle Haggard and Buck Owens. With Keith Richards’ twanging guitars, Ronnie Wood’s pedal steel, and Bill Wyman’s steady bass, Far Away Eyes nails the Bakersfield groove while Mick Jagger’s exaggerated Southern drawl adds a layer of tongue-in-cheek charm. This mix of sincerity and parody makes the track a unique gem in the Stones’ catalog and one of their most character-filled performances.
Mick Jagger once revealed that the idea came while driving through Bakersfield on a Sunday, listening to gospel-heavy country radio. That blend of faith, humor, and loneliness inspired Far Away Eyes, turning a simple drive into a reflection on solitude, longing, and connection through music. The “girl with the far away eyes” becomes a symbol of escapism—someone lost in her world, maybe even her faith.
Jagger’s country pantomime
Keith Richards later laughed about Mick’s performance, calling it “slightly vaudeville.” And that’s exactly what makes it work. Jagger’s over-the-top delivery and the band’s tight musicianship merge into a perfect balance of parody and authenticity. It’s pure Stones—witty, rootsy, and endlessly cool.
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