My Top Ten Social Distancing Songs

 

Step back, please. As we all head back into lockdown, it's time to social distance in song...

10. The Police - Don't Stand So Close To Me

Let's start with the obvious one, eh?

All the girls in Mr. Sting's class fancied their teacher.

9. Hall & Oates - So Close

A mismatched romance, contained one of the great lyrical couplets to describe such an inequality...

He fell like a rock, 

She kinda liked him.

But as for being relevant to our current predicament, try this...

We believe in tomorrow, though we're stuck in today.

Baby we're so close, so close, yet so far away.

8. Dire Straits - So Far Away

I'm tired of bein' in love and bein' all alone

When you're so far away from me

I'm tired of makin' out on the telephone

'Cause you're so far away from me

Bonus track with the same title...

Stephen Duffy - So Far Away

When I was a young, young man

Back in the Twentieth Century

Well, you made your own amusements then

Flying to the moon

The benefit of hindsight

Is always black and white

There always were contrasting ways

To help you through the night

From bright morning star to morning sun

But they are so far away

That I won’t even ask them to stay

7. Richard Thompson - Keep Your Distance

Keep your distance, keep your distance

When I feel you close to me what can I do but fall

Keep your distance, oh keep your distance

With us it must be all or none at all

6. Suzanne Vega - Solitude Standing

Solitude stands in the doorway

And I'm struck once again by her black silhouette

By her long cool stare and her silence

I suddenly remember each time we've met

5. Astrid - Distance

Now that you're far away

I can feel the distance

They say it's only fresh air

But I can feel the distance

And the sun always shines

When you walk my way

Baby, I wonder

Is it sunny with you today?

4. Bruce Springsteen - You Can Look (But You Better Not Touch)

Mess around and you'll end up in dutch, boy

3. Justin Currie - You Will Always Walk Alone

Lying asleep at night under the watching ceiling light

Safe in the fortress of your home

Remember you'll always walk alone

2. The Temptations - I Can't Get Next To You

I

Can turn the grey sky blue

I can make it rain, whenever I want it to, oh I

I can build a castle from a single grain of sand

I can make a ship sail, on dry land tell 'em yeah

But my life is incomplete and I'm so blue

'Cause I can't get next to you

1. The Georgia Satellites - Keep Your Hands To Yourself

Still one of the great unsung rock 'n' roll songs...

No hug-ee, no kiss-ee... glad I'm not dating in lockdown.

If you want to leave a suggestion in the comments box, make sure it's at least two metres from anyone else's.