‘Smoke from a Distant Fire’ is a song by American duo Sanford-Townsend Band. It was released as a single in 1977 from their self-titled album. The song peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 on the week ending September 17, 1977, becoming the duo's only Top 40 hit.
Johnny Townsend of Sanford-Townsend Band told Songfacts how they created the song: "In the spring of 1974 Ed Sanford and I had just signed a publishing deal with Chappell Music. They gave us a nice advance and a weekly stipend and for a couple of unknown writers, this was a rare deal. Ed and our friend Steven Stewart (co-writer on Smoke...) were sharing one half of an old duplex in Hollywood at the time. I used to drop by and hang out, write or whatever, almost on a daily basis. I was over one morning as Ed was just waking up and Steven hadn't been to bed yet. Ed was complaining about not getting any sleep and barked at Steven, 'When are you gonna stop wasting your time on that classical crap and write something that will make you some money.' Steven picked up his guitar immediately and started playing what I thought was a really cool, R&B type rhythm and replied with 'Anybody can write that crap.' I said, 'Apparently you just did' and went straight to the piano and embellished on his idea.”
Townsend continued, “While going through some old song ideas in my notebook I always carried, I found one that actually was the title of a poem that Ed had written while in college. I extracted the title because it seemed to be a perfect fit for the chorus idea I had and that all sort of amalgamated into 'Smoke From A Distant Fire.' Basically, the song started as a joke and that joke is still making us money to this very day.”
The song was recorded at the famous Muscle Shoals Sound Studios in Sheffield, Alabama. Jerry Masters described the session: "I had the pleasure of recording this band and this song. It was without a doubt the best band I have ever worked with in my entire 50-year career as a recording engineer. It was also the last album I did before leaving Muscle Shoals Sound in 1976 and it was mixed by my good friend and excellent engineer Greg Hamm. It was the best album I've ever done and I consider it the peak of my career by being associated with these fine musicians and song writers. It was the perfect ending to a great career at Muscle Shoals Sound - not the end of my career, but still the best I ever put my hands to. I salute the Sanford-Townsend Band as the best of the best, even today, it's my favorite of all time."
Label – Warner Bros. Records
Songwriters – Ed Sanford, John Townsend, Steven Stewart
Producers – Barry Beckett, Jerry Wexler
SONG LYRICS
[Verse 1]You left me here on your way to paradise
And you pulled the rug right out from under my life
I know where you goin' to, I knew when you came home last night
'Cause your eyes had a mist from the smoke of a distant fire
[Verse 2]
Lord, I was stunned, shoulda seen it come a long time ago
When I realized, the reality gave me a roll
If things are the same, then explain why your kiss is so cold
And that mist in your eyes feels like rain on the fire in my soul
[Bridge]
This lyin' and cryin' is upsettin' and gettin' nowhere
It don't stack up, so slack up, then pack up, I just don't care
Don't let the screen door hit you on your way out
Don't you drown when your dreamboat runs onto the ground
[Verse 3]
I'd just like to know, do you love him or just makin' time
By filling his glass with your fast-flowing bittersweet lime?
You'll face the aftertaste when you come home late some night
With your eyes all a mist from the smoke of a distant fire
[Outro]
Girl, your eyes have a mist from the smoke of a distant fire
(Girl, your eyes have a mist from the smoke of a distant fire)
Girl, your eyes have a mist from the smoke of a distant fire
(Girl, your eyes have a mist from the smoke of a distant fire)
Girl, your eyes have a mist from the smoke of a distant fire
(Mist in your eyes from a distant fire)
Girl, your eyes have a mist from the smoke of a dis—
A distant fire