Beyond Reach: A Cry from Afar | Twenty Five Miles | Edwin Starr

"Twenty Five Miles" is a 1965 song by Edwin Starr that has become an iconic hit of the soul music genre. The song's meaning can be interpreted in several ways, but its core message is one of longing and yearning for someone who is physically far away.

The lyrics describe the protagonist's desire to be reunited with his loved one, who is 25 miles away - a seemingly insignificant distance that becomes a metaphor for the emotional chasm between them. Starr's powerful vocals convey the anguish and desperation felt by someone who is separated from their heart's desire. The song's chorus, "Twenty five miles, twenty-five long miles," drives home the point of just how far apart they are.

The song's writer, Victor Drayton, reportedly drew inspiration from his own experiences with a loved one who was stationed overseas during the Vietnam War. This context adds an emotional depth to the song, as it captures the pain and vulnerability that comes with being separated from someone by circumstances beyond your control.

Despite its melancholic tone, "Twenty Five Miles" has become a beloved classic of soul music, with its soaring melody and impassioned vocals making it a staple of 1960s R&B. The song's enduring popularity is a testament to the universal human experience of longing for connection and companionship, even in the face of physical distance.