WALKING DISTANCE



performed on:
This very quiet duet between Nick and Janet was the first single from CHILD and the first song officially released by what some fans dubbed a new band, finally coming out from underneath the fallout of FUN and SCIENCE. It is a complete turnaround but a soothing one, surprisingly -- on the album -- not even jarring after "Make," leading beautifully into the next section of CHILD. The song is from the LOVE sessions, written by Nick and Janet together; it took shape in demo form sometime in 2002, though it was derived from an earlier song called "Speech Says." Though it was selected for a full band pickup on CHILD, it actually receives very little augmentation when compared to the demo, included on the "My One and Only" maxi single.

According to Nick, "Walking Distance" is about the band itself, an easy enough statement to believe considering what was happening to Plaastik at the time the track was composed. It also was the catalyst for the sound of the entire album, itself inspired by "We Were," the song Plaastik turned to as the model for their new recordings after Tina Singleton's departure. It's said, incidentally, that Tina took the song's contents personally and that it was the source of much bad blood in their final months of association. Nevertheless, upon release the song was instantly beloved by fans (much as "We Were" had been). It peaked at #29 on the charts but was embraced by the fans and added to the anticipation for CHILD.

The song has been played live in three versions: Nick alone on an acoustic guitar in 2004, a full band electric version a year later that reportedly "does not work," and an acoustic rendition with Janet, Nick, and Kevin in 2005. The poorly-received video was comprised of black & white footage of children playing, with a surprise ending many found contrived.


I'm not what I used to be
But what I am is all right
Bendin' over backwards to make room
And look where it got me
No corner no domain no inch of space
Nowhere to hide, baby

Words come out and my throat gets tangled
Now I wish I said what I felt inside
Instead of burying you in Hallmark verse
Instead of telling those beautiful lies

Only way I know is to rearrange the world
Make mine and yours closer together
And every time we move around
It won't be a trip
'Cause it's only walking distance from the way we used to be

I don't belong like this
I feel like a kid again
Get me out get me out
I miss the life we built

And you look up with that determined glare
Tell me all about how you really feel
So let me tell you what I really feel
If that ain't against the law

I hate it here and I wanna go home
Home to all of what you can't stand
Bye bye baby bye bye
So long bye bye baby now I'm gone

If it was only walking distance