High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! "From a Distance" is a song written in 1985 by American singer-songwriter Julie Gold. Some think this song was inspired by a PF Sloan song of the same name. Gold was working as a secretary at the time for Home Box Office and writing songs in her free time. Gold`s friend, Christine Lavin, introduced the song to Nanci Griffith who first recorded it for her 1987 album, Lone Star State of Mind. It quickly became a favorite of Griffith`s fans around the world. The Byrds recorded the song as one of 4 newly recorded studio tracks for their box set The Byrds released in 1990. The song then became an international commercial success after it was recorded in 1990 by Bette Midler for the album Some People`s Lives. "From a Distance" went to number one on the Adult Contemporary chart and peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. The song went on to win a Grammy for Song of the Year in 1991.