A Thousand Miles Lyrics

[Piano Intro]

[Refrain]
Makin' my way downtown
Walkin' fast, faces pass
And I'm homebound

Starin' blankly ahead
Just makin' my way
Makin' a way through the crowd

[Pre-Chorus]
And I need you
And I miss you
And now I wonder


[Chorus]
If I could fall into the sky
Do you think time would pass me by?

'Cause you know I'd walk a thousand miles
If I could just see you
Tonight


[Verse]
It's always times like these when I think of you
And I wonder if you ever think of me
'Cause everything's so wrong, and I don't belong
Livin' in your precious memory
[Pre-Chorus]
'Cause I'll need you
And I'll miss you
And now I wonder


[Chorus]
If I could fall into the sky
Do you think time would pass me by?

Oh, 'cause you know I'd walk a thousand miles
If I could just see you
Tonight


[Bridge]
I, I don't wanna let you know
I, I drown in your memory
I, I don't wanna let this go
I, I don't

[Refrain]
Makin' my way downtown
Walkin' fast, faces pass
And I'm homebound

Starin' blankly ahead
Just makin' my way
Makin' a way through the crowd

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About

Genius Annotation

The lead single for Carlton’s debut album Be Not Nobody, “A Thousand Miles” has solidified itself over the years as an Internet sensation that cross through all forms of media. Upon its release in 2002, it saw much success on the Billboard charts, becoming the #1 song on the Adult Contemporary charts and making all the way to #5 on the Hot 100 chart. Featuring an iconic piano segment in the chorus by Vanessa Carlton herself, the song has been included in a wide array of memes including a beautiful rendition by Terry Crews in the film “White Chicks” and a duet by Jimmy Butler and Kyrie Irving on the Team USA flight in 2016.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

Translations:
Genius Answer
What did Vanessa Carlton say about "A Thousand Miles"?
Genius Answer

This song is about a crush I had on a Juilliard student. I would never talk to this person. I was very shy. like there is no way in god’s creation that this would ever happen. And so the idea that like, you have a better chance of falling up than ever having a relationship with this person. I can’t say that person’s name because they’re like a famous actor, and I don’t want to say it.

–via Distracify (April, 2021)

What has the media said about the song?
Genius Answer

In 2018, NPR ranked this as the #52 greatest song by a female or nonbinary artist in the 21st century, saying:

Vanessa Carlton followed her pianist mother’s path with the harmonic homerun ‘A Thousand Miles,’ a debut single that catapulted the then-21-year-old onto the mainstream’s radar. The track’s cameo in the (otherwise problematic) Wayans Brothers' 2004 film White Chicks says it all: this solo-piano-turned-full-orchestral banger is iconic. From the first ivory tinklings, any listener could tell the pop ballad would forever change radio waves. Granted, Alicia Keys was climbing charts around the same time, but Carlton’s guts and melodies empowered a whole new class of earnest femme-identifying singer-songwriters including Nellie McKay and Sara Bareilles. Carlton strikes the crucial balance of sincere — ‘If I could just see you/ If I could just hold you/ Tonight’ — without broaching sappy.

Credits
Written By
Mastering Engineer
Recording Engineer
Mixing Engineer
Guitar
String Arranger
Release Date
February 12, 2002
Songs That Sample A Thousand Miles
Rockin' (Over The Hedge Version) [Bandcamp Exclusive] by David0Mario & himynameisshan., Babyblau by Coach Bennet, Rockin' by David0Mario & himynameisshan., Lamb Chop (Untitled) by Stunna Gambino, Não Erro Tiro de Nine by YUNG LIXO (Ft. ​predo), Stayin Tru V2 by NaniOSO, Bussdown by Latto (Ft. Kodak Black), Bardzo tensknie za tobom.... by Young Policja (Ft. Vanessa Carlton), Baby I’m Back III: The Finale by Pluffaduff, Who I Smoke (Remix) by Foolio, ​copyright strike my fucking nuts by ‎leroy, ​a thousand xans by Simcxrd, WHO I SMOKE (remix) by VNKNOWNARTIST, 1000Milia by GIOZI, 2000-2019 mashup | 200 songs from the last 20 years by YamiNoBahamut, File Select Fusion 3½ by TheGuy, Memey Hell by Reason (ES), No Matter What by Polo G, Run Tired by Ejvthewriter, If 6ix9ine was a white girl by Acrylo, KEEP IT ONE THOUSAND by LIL BOODANG, ​zukunft by EN6O, Downtown by Raw Dizzy, Waiting by Cheryl, At It All Night by T.I., If XXXTENTACION was a white girl by Acrylo, 1000 Slimes by Slime Dollaz, Future Dads (Platinum Edition) by Super Mash Bros., Help Yo Self by Xavier Wulf, Thousand Miles by Left Boy, Bad Words by Watsky, Walking Through The Ville by Kooda B, I Don't Care by Ski Mask the Slump God, AC/VC by Neil Cicierega, 10,000 miles by Cam'ron, ​a thousaNd miles by SiIvaGunner, Breakin' My Way Downtown by Ph0ton, Unspoken Chances by David0Mario & himynameisshan., Lassoer by David0Mario, MEME MEGAMIX ULTRA by Knock Monsterr, EXTREME SOUNDCLOWN MEGAMIX IV by Gyrotron, 6 O'Clock In Beverley by TheHxliday, Tonight by O.T. Genasis, Who I Smoke by Spinabenz, Yungeen Ace & FastMoney Goon (Ft. Whoppa Wit Da Choppa & Whoppa Wit Da Choppa) & Brandon by Rico Nasty
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