{{short description|1961 song by Hedy West}} {{for multi|the song by The Proclaimers|I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)|other uses|}} {{redirect|500 Miles Away from Home|the album by Bobby Bare|500 Miles Away from Home (album)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}} "'''500 Miles'''" (also known as "'''500 Miles Away from Home'''" or "'''Railroaders' Lament'''") is a song made popular in the United States and Europe during the 1960s folk revival. The simple repetitive lyrics offer a lament by a traveler who is far from home, out of money, and too ashamed to return. In a May 1963 interview on ''Folk Music Worldwide'', Paul Stookey of Peter, Paul and Mary characterized the song, which appeared on the group's 1962 debut album, as "a reflection of loneliness."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Paul Stookey 2 - Folk Music Worldwide, 1963 Interview |url=https://www.folkmusicworldwide.com/paul-stookey-2.html |access-date=2025-01-24 |website=www.folkmusicworldwide.com}}</ref>
==History== The song is generally credited as being written by Hedy West,<ref name="rus">Blood, Peter and Annie Patterson (eds), ''Rise Up Singing'', Sing Out Corporation, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania , United States, 1992, p. 232</ref><ref name="songs">Anderson, Yohann (ed), ''Songs'', Songs and Creations, Inc., San Anselmo, California, United States, 1983, p. 29</ref> and a 1961 copyright is held by Atzal Music, Inc.<ref name="rus"/> "500 Miles" is West's "most anthologized song".<ref name=indp>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/hedy-west-501214.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090115211251/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/hedy-west-501214.html|archive-date=15 January 2009|title=Obituary: Hedy West|last=Hunt|first=Ken|date=3 August 2005|newspaper=The Independent|access-date=17 September 2009}}</ref> Some recordings have also credited Curly Williams, or John Phillips as co-writers,<ref name=elvis>{{cite web|url=http://users.telenet.be/davidneale/elvis/originals/list1.html |title=Elvis Presley: Original Versions of Songs He Sang |access-date=2008-09-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080920031043/http://users.telenet.be/davidneale/elvis/originals/list1.html |archive-date=20 September 2008}}</ref> although Phillips admitted he had only rearranged it and "didn't deserve the credit".<ref>Phillips, John: Papa John. An Autobiography, Doubleday & Co. 1986, {{ISBN|978-0440167839}}, p. 118</ref> David Neale writes that "500 Miles" may be related to the older folk song "900 Miles" (Roud 4959),<ref name="Roud 500 Miles">{{cite web |url=https://mainlynorfolk.info/folk/songs/fivehundredmiles.html |title=Five Hundred Miles / Nine Hundred Miles |work=Mainly Norfolk: English Folk and Other Good Music |access-date=2020-03-24 |quote=Nine Hundred Miles is a lament of a traveller far from home that is from the beginning of the last century or earlier. Hedy West rewrote this song as Five Hundred Miles with a different tune but several overlapping verses. }}</ref> which may itself have origins in the Southern American fiddle tunes "Reuben's Train" and "Train 45".<ref name=elvis/><ref name="COHEN">{{cite book |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=AY7St4-8x10C&q=%22John+Henry%22&pg=PA61 |author = Cohen, Norm |title = Long Steel Rail: The Railroad in American Folksong, 2nd Ed. |publisher = University of Illinois Press |location = Urbana |year = 2000 |pages = 503–517 |isbn = 0-252-06881-5 |access-date = 2012-02-19}}</ref> Johnny Cash is known to have included "500 Miles" on his list of 100 essential country songs in the early 1970s.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/transcripts/113496614 |title=Rosanne Cash Runs Down Her Father's 'List' |last=Gross |first=Terry |date=5 October 2009 |website=Npr.org |access-date=13 July 2020 }}</ref>
Folklorist Norm Cohen writes that a distance of 900 miles, rather than 500, is most commonly referenced in versions of the traditional song, but other distances, including 400 miles and 10,000 miles also appear.<ref name="COHEN"/>
The melody of "500 Miles" is very close to that of “You’ll Never Miss Your Mother Till She’s Gone", written by Harry Birch, an alias of Charles A. White, and published by White, Smith, and Company of Boston, Massachusetts in 1885.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Song: You'll Never Miss Your Mother Till She's Gone written by Charles A White {{!}} SecondHandSongs |url=https://secondhandsongs.com/work/161840/all |access-date=2024-08-19 |website=secondhandsongs.com}}</ref> Both "You'll Never Miss Your Mother Till She's Gone" and "900 Miles" were first recorded by Fiddlin' John Carson in 1923-4.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Fiddlin' John Carson - Discography of American Historical Recordings |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/mastertalent/detail/104795/Carson_Fiddlin_John?Matrix_page=100000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240716102409/https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/mastertalent/detail/104795/Carson_Fiddlin_John?Matrix_page=100000 |archive-date=2024-07-16 |access-date= |website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}</ref>
==Bobby Bare version== {{Infobox song | name = 500 Miles Away From Home | cover = | alt = | type = single | artist = Bobby Bare | album = 500 Miles Away From Home | B-side = It All Depends on Linda | released = September 1963 | recorded = | studio = | venue = | genre = Countrypolitan<ref name= "Marsh 1989">{{cite book|first=Dave|last=Marsh|title=The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5t5DYDniSHEC|date=1989|publisher=Plume|isbn=0-452-26305-0|page=571}}</ref> | length = | label = RCA Victor | writer = Hedy West | producer = Chet Atkins | prev_title = Detroit City | prev_year = 1963 | next_title = Miller's Cave | next_year = 1964 }}
The most commercially successful version of the song was Bobby Bare's in 1963. His version became a top-10 hit on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100, as well as a top-five hit on both the Country and Adult Contemporary charts.
==Chart history== {{col-begin|width=67%}} {{col-2}}
===Weekly charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- !Chart (1963) !Peak<br />position |- |Canada ''CHUM Chart''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chumtribute.com/63-11-11-chart.jpg| title=CHUM Hit Parade - November 11, 1963}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|7 |- |US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>''Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990'' - {{ISBN|0-89820-089-X}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|10 |- |US ''Billboard'' Adult Contemporary<ref>{{cite book|first= Joel |last= Whitburn |author-link= Joel Whitburn |year= 1993 |title= Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993 |publisher= Record Research |page=24}}</ref> |align="center"|4 |- |US ''Billboard'' Country |align="center"|5 |- |US ''Cash Box'' Top 100<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/19631123.html |title=Cash Box Top 100 Singles, November 23, 1963 |access-date=10 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910220656/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/19631123.html |archive-date=10 September 2017 }}</ref> |align="center"|15 |} {{col-2}}
===Year-end charts=== {| class="wikitable" |- !Chart (1963) ! style="text-align:center;"|Rank |- |US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1963.htm|title=Top 100 Hits of 1963/Top 100 Songs of 1963 | Music Outfitters|website=Musicoutfitters.com|access-date=20 December 2021}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|100 |- |} {{col-end}}
==Other cover versions== *The song appears on the 1961 eponymous debut album by The Journeymen;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.answers.com/topic/the-journeymen-rock-album |title=The Most Trusted Place for Answering Life's Questions |publisher=Answers |date=2016-08-03 |access-date=2016-09-26}}</ref> this may have been its first release. *The song was heard on the February 1962 Kingston Trio live album ''College Concert'' (a 1962 US number three). *It was further popularized by Peter, Paul and Mary, who included the song on their debut album in May 1962.<ref>{{cite web|last=Eder |first=Bruce |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/peter-paul-and-mary-mw0000197067 |title=Peter, Paul and Mary - Peter, Paul and Mary | Songs, Reviews, Credits |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=2016-09-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|date=19 January 1963|title=Top Selling Folk Artists|journal=Billboard Magazine|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|page=18|issn=0006-2510}}</ref> *It appears as "Nine Hundred Miles“ on the 1962 album ''When I Was a Young Girl'' from folk-singer Barbara Dane (released in October 1962). *American country music singer Bobby Bare recorded a version with new lyrics, which became a hit single in 1963.<ref name=indp/> *Dick and Dee Dee released a version of the song on their 1964 album, ''Turn Around''. *The song was covered by Sonny & Cher on their 1965 album ''Look at Us''. This version was played over the credits of the 1966 BBC TV film ''Cathy Come Home''. *The lyrics feature heavily in the Bob Dylan song "I Was Young When I Left Home". *Bluegrass versions were recorded by The Country Gentlemen on their album ''25 Years''<ref name="Washington Post 25 Years">{{cite news |last=Joyce |first=Mike |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1982/12/31/25-years-of-the-country-gentlemen/ec92ac23-bca7-4c71-941c-40df3ed76aa1/ |title=25 Years of The Country Gentlemen |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=1982-12-31 |access-date=2020-03-24 |quote=John Duffey's whispery tenor graces ... 500 Miles }}</ref> and The Seldom Scene on their album ''Act I''.<ref name="AllMusic Act 1">{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/act-1-mw0000100309 |title=Act 1 - The Seldom Scene |last=Lankford |first=Ronnie D. Jr. |work=ALLMUSIC |access-date=2020-03-24 |quote=bluegrass fans would not have objected to "Darling Corey" or "500 Miles" }}</ref> *The Hooters recorded a version of this song with additional lyrics, dedicated to the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989. Peter, Paul and Mary provided background vocals for them, as well. This version is on the album ''Zig Zag''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/zig-zag-mw0000204923|title=Zig Zag - The Hooters {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits |website=AllMusic|access-date=2018-11-28}}</ref> *It has also been recorded by Terry Callier (as ″900 Miles″ on ''The New Folk Sound of Terry Callier''), Lonnie Donegan, The Brothers Four, Glen Campbell, Johnny Rivers, Reba McEntire, Jackie DeShannon, The Seekers, Elvis Presley, Peter and Gordon, Eric Bibb, Hootenanny Singers, Joan Baez, Takako Matsu, The Persuasions, Slater Rhea, Bad Astronaut, and many others.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/hedy-west-mn0000671500/songs |title=Hedy West|publisher=AllMusic |access-date=2016-09-26}}</ref> *The song was performed by Justin Timberlake, Carey Mulligan, and Stark Sands for the soundtrack of the film ''Inside Llewyn Davis''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Various artists: Inside Llewyn Davis|url=https://www.avclub.com/various-artists-inside-llewyn-davis-1798178641|access-date=2021-04-07|website=Music.avclub.com|date=12 November 2013 |language=en-us}}</ref> *Rosanne Cash covered the song on her 2009 album ''The List''. *In 2012, the song was recorded by American bluegrass band, The Special Consensus for their album ''Scratch Gravel Road''. *Niger's pioneer of electronic music Mamman Sani recorded an instrumental version, which is included in the compilation album ''Unreleased Tapes 1981-1984''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mammansani.bandcamp.com/album/unreleased-tapes-1981-1984|title=Unreleased Tapes 1981-1984 {{!}} Mamman Sani|website=Bandcamp|access-date=2022-10-08}}</ref> *The song's tune with a few slight lyric changes has been incorporated into the reggae song "Roach Killer" by Super Chick.<ref>{{YouTube |sBoOH_0Jexo |Super Chick - Roach Killer 10Inch (1980) Hit Bound}}</ref> * The song is also covered by Clint Eastwood & General Saint in their hit song "Stop That Train", although the covered part is not to be heard until halfway into the song. * Being a well-documented song publicised by English Folk Dance and Song Society,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vwml.org/roudnumber/4959|title=Five Hundred Miles / Nine Hundred Miles (Roud index 4959)|access-date=18 January 2024}}</ref> and Mainly Norfolk,<ref>{{cite web |url= https://mainlynorfolk.info/folk/songs/fivehundredmiles.html |title= Five Hundred Miles / Nine Hundred Miles|access-date=18 January 2024}}</ref> the song was recorded by Jon Boden and Oli Steadman for inclusion in their respective lists of daily folk songs "A Folk Song A Day"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.afolksongaday.com/?page_id=5354|title=A Folk Song A Day: Song List |date=12 October 2016 |access-date=12 January 2024}}</ref> and "365 Days Of Folk".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://medium.com/@365daysoffolk|title=365 Days Of Folk: Song List|access-date=12 January 2024}}</ref>
== In other languages == {{more citations needed|section|date=August 2017}}
=== Albanian === Ilirët sang the song in Albanian.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.teksteshqip.com/iliret/lyric-1843909.php|title=Iliret - Treni I Fundit|website=Teksteshqip.com|access-date=20 December 2021}}</ref>
=== Assamese === Jayanta Hazarika sang in Assamese ''"Ketiyaba Bejarote''" (English: :Sometimes When in Grief") in 1962. Again, in 2018, Zubeen Garg sang "''Kot Mur Maa''" (English: Where’s My Mom) for a drama of Aawahan Mobile Theatre group.
=== Bengali === Bengali singer Anjan Dutt sung the song in Bengali called "Mr. Hall" in his 1997 album ''Keu Gaan Gaye''.
=== Chinese === In 2017, a Chinese adaptation of the song called "别送我" (English: "Don't Send Me Off") was released on the soundtrack of ''Duckweed'' and sung by Chen Hongyu, Su Zixu, Liu Hao Lin, and Han Luo.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}}
=== Czech === A Czech version was recorded in 1967 as "''Tisíc mil''" (English: "Thousand Miles") with the lyrics by Ivo Fischer, sung as a duet by Waldemar Matuška and Helena Vondráčková.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vondrackova.cz/cz/pesni-15/1967-03-23-tisic-mil-713#area|title=Helena Vondráčková | Tisíc mil|access-date=20 December 2021|website=Vondrackova.cz}}</ref> and other version 500 mil performed by Rangers-Plavci
=== Finnish === In Finnish, the song has been recorded under at least five different scores, by Jukka Raitanen. This time, it was called "Liian kaukana" (English: "Too Far Away"). Lyrics were written by Raul Reiman. This song was released on Raitanen's album ''Yölinjalla''. "Yölinjalla(in)" song is a Finnish version of the song "I Walk the Line" by Johnny Cash.
Moreover, "500 Miles" has also been released with religious content under the name "''Lapsuuden usko''" (English: "Childhood Faith"), with lyrics by Matti Nyberg. This version has been recorded at least three times in 1973, 2005, and 2011.<ref name="secondhandsongs.com">{{Cite web |title=Cover versions of 500 Miles written by Hedy West |url=https://secondhandsongs.com/work/8308/versions#nav-entity |access-date=20 December 2021 |website=Secondhandsongs.com}}</ref> It was released by a parish singer group Dominicones in 1973. In 2005 it was recorded by actor and singer Mikko Leppilampi. The song was released on album ''Tilkkutäkki'' (English: ''Quilt'', by various artists), and targeted to people who want to remember the time of their confirmation on Lutheran church.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/kxqtiFBOkzE Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20200527182517/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxqtiFBOkzE&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxqtiFBOkzE| title = Mikko Leppilampi - Lapsuuden usko | website=YouTube| date = 31 May 2012 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> In 2011, it was recorded by Petrus (real name Petri Kokko, born 1970) in his album ''Enkelten laulut'' (English: ''The Songs of Angels'').<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://secondhandsongs.com/artist/133076|title=Petri Kokko |website=Secondhandsongs.com|access-date=20 December 2021}}</ref>
=== French === The song was adapted by lyricist Jacques Plante under the title ''Et j'entends siffler le train'' (English: "I Hear the Train Whistling"). It was sung by Richard Anthony, who had a hit with it.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.infodisc.fr/Number1.php |title=InfoDisc: Les Bilans Récapitulatifs (Chansons, Tubes ou Succès) des Titres N° 1 |access-date=31 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111222152736/http://www.infodisc.fr/Number1.php |archive-date=22 December 2011}}</ref> His recording reached number one in France in 1962. According to Richard Anthony, the song struck a chord with young French soldiers who were leaving for the Algerian War.
Hugues Aufray also sang it, but his version was not as successful. Anthony's version was covered by Franco Battiato on his 1999 album ''Fleurs''. In 2011, Hugues Aufray rerecorded the song in a duet with Françoise Hardy on his album ''Troubadour since 1948''.
=== German === In 1963 a German version, "''Und dein Zug fährt durch die Nacht''" (English: "And Your Train Goes Through the Night"), was a success for Peter Beil. Also in German, Santiano in 2012 released a marine-themed version, "''500 Meilen''", on their album ''Bis ans Ende der Welt''.
=== Hebrew === A Hebrew version by Aviva Marks is called, "500 מייל" in 1966. The meaning of the name is "500 Miles", and it came part of her album ''Sweeter than Wine'' ("מתוק מיין"). The song is mostly translation to Hebrew.
=== Hindi === Indian composer Rajesh Roshan used the tune to compose "''Jab Koyi Baat Bigad Jaaye''" (English: "When Things Go Wrong")<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bollywoodcopy.com/jab-koi-baat-bigad-jaaye-copied-from-five-hundred-miles/|title='Jab Koi Baat Bigad Jaaye' copied from 'Five Hundred Miles'|date=21 August 2017|website=Bollywoodcopy.com|access-date=20 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://chennairavi.wordpress.com/2014/05/28/jab-koi-baat-bigad-jaye-500-hundred-miles/|title=Jab koi baat bigad jaye–500 miles away from home|website=Chennairavi.wordpress.com|date=28 May 2014|access-date=20 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-JLZMLUx7g |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/a-JLZMLUx7g |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|title=Five Hundred miles / Jab koi baat bigar jaie comparison|website=YouTube |date=21 December 2009 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> in 1990's movie ''Jurm''.
=== Indonesian === The tune of this song has been used in religious contents in Indonesia. In the widely popular book of songs and praise for Catholics ''Madah Bakti'', 500 Miles is adapted into Indonesian as “Ya Tuhan Kami Datang” (English: O Lord, We Come) and is included in the hymnal as hymn number 366. It is widely used in Roman Catholic liturgy in Indonesia, particularly in penitential or reflective contexts. In the hymn, the lyrics reflects key elements of Catholic spirituality, particularly the understanding of repentance as a communal and relational act. By acknowledging sin in both vertical (toward God) and horizontal (toward others) dimensions, the hymn underscores reconciliation as an essential preparation for participation in the Eucharistic celebration. However, they hymnal does not provide any context explaining the origin of the melody. Like other hymns translated into Indonesian, this may be because the song was originally secular and later turned into a hymn or song of praise.{{cn|date=April 2026}}
=== Japanese === The Japanese duo Wink included it as the B side of their 1989 single {{nihongo |淋しい熱帯魚 |Samishii Nettaigyo}}, under the title {{nihongo |背中 まで 500 マイル |Senaka Made 500 Mairu; 500 Miles Back}}.{{citation needed|date=September 2018}} In 1991, Kiyoshiro_Imawano sang {{nihongo |500 マイル |500 Mairu}} on the debut album titled ''{{nihongo |日本の人 |Nippon No Hito; People of Japan}}'' of HIS (unit with Haruomi Hosono and Fuyumi Sakamoto) In 2018, Japanese singer Kiyoe Yoshioka sang a Japanese version of the song, "500 Mairu" (500マイル) on her debut album ''Uta Iro''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ikimonogakari Vocalist Kiyoe Yoshioka Announces Debut Solo Album "Uta Iro" |url=https://www.jpopasia.com/feed/24420/ikimonogakari-vocalist-kiyoe-yoshioka-announces-debut-solo-album-uta-iro/ |website=Jpopasia.com|access-date=25 October 2018}}</ref>
=== Slovenian === Slovene singer Lado Leskovar wrote a 1965 hit based on the song titled "''Poslednji vlak''" (English: "The Last Train").<ref>{{cite web|title=Iz naftalina: Lado Leskovar – Poslednji vlak - siol.net|url=http://siol.net/trendi/glasba/iz-naftalina-lado-leskovar-poslednji-vlak-215951 |website=Siol.net|access-date=13 July 2017 }}</ref>
=== Spanish === Costa Rican rock band Los Rufos recorded a Spanish version under the title "500 Millas" in 1967. A similar version was recorded by the Nicaraguan band Los Rockets.
=== Vietnamese === Two versions in Vietnamese have been recorded. One is "''Tiễn em lần cuối''" ("Send You Off for the Last Time") sung by Trung Hanh; another one is "''Người tình ngàn dặm''" ("Thousand-mile-away Lover") sung by Ngọc Lan.
==In media== Peter, Paul & Mary's version of the song was used in: * ''Rocky Mountain Express:'' 2011 Canadian film, which chronicles the early history of the Canadian Pacific Railway while following restored steam locomotive Canadian Pacific 2816 along the route. * ''Mr Inbetween:'' 2018-21 Australian TV series used it in season two, episode eight: "You'll See Me in Your Dreams". * ''Professor T''.: 2021 Crime Drama featuring Ben Miller used the version in season one, episode four: "Mother Love". * In the 2022 film ''Bullet Train'', a version of the song is used by Song For Memories. * Episode four in season two of the BBC Drama ''The Responder'' ends with The Journeymen version of the song.
==See also== *American fiddle *List of train songs
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Bobby Bare}} {{Peter, Paul and Mary}} {{The Hooters}} {{authority control}}
Category:1961 songs Category:1962 singles Category:1963 singles Category:American folk songs Category:Bobby Bare songs Category:Dick and Dee Dee songs Category:Glen Campbell songs Category:Peter, Paul and Mary songs Category:Songs about loneliness Category:Songs about trains Category:The Hooters songs Category:The Kingston Trio songs Category:Number-one singles in France