All though I agree with Ray Charles manliness I believe the song you are thinking of is America the Beautiful.
You’re Missing, **Waiting a Sunny Day ** by The Boss on his album The Rising.
More “missing you” songs:
Here I am again in this mean old town
And you’re so far away from me
And where are you when the sun goes down
You’re so far away from me
So far away from me
So far I just can’t see
So far away from me
You’re so far away from me
“So Far Away” - Dire Straits
He’s gone 2000 miles
It’s very far
The snow is falling down
Gets colder day by day
I miss you
“2000 Miles” - The Pretenders (Though this song also has a Christmas theme.)
When I need you
I just close my eyes and I’m with you
And all that I so wanna give you babe
It’s only a heartbeat away
“When I Need You” - Leo Sayer
I dreamt we were standing
By the banks of the thames
Where the cold grey waters ripple
In the misty morning light
Held a match to your cigarette
Watched the smoke curl in the mist
Your eyes, blue as the ocean between us
Smiling at me
“Misty Morning, Albert Bridge” - The Pogues
Wishing you were here - Chicago
*Wherever you go
My heart will follow
I love you so
I’ll be true to you
Take my love with you
To any port or foreign shore
Darling you must feel for sure
I’ll be true to you
Soldier boy
Oh, my little soldier boy
I’ll be true to you*
Soldier Boy - The Shirelles
*While I’m far away from you my baby
I know it’s hard for you my baby
Because it’s hard for me my baby
And the darkest hour is just before dawn
Each night before you go to bed my baby
Whisper a little prayer for me my baby
And tell all the stars above
This is dedicated to the one I love*
Dedicated to the One I Love - The Mamas and Papas
“Missing You” - John Waite
“Darling Be Home Soon” - Lovin’ Spoonful (beautiful song despite the fact that John Sebastian used the words “dawdled” and “toddled” in the chorus)
How 'bout Blue Kentucky Girl, done by Loretta Lynn, Emmylou Harris, and probably others?
“If I Needed You,” written by Townes van Zandt. I love the original, but his voice isn’t for everyone. My favorite cover is probably Lyle Lovett’s.
“Love Minus Zero/No Limit,” by Bob Dylan.
“Anniversary Song,” by the Cowboy Junkies.
Man, I thought I had several, but once I really thought about it I realized they are way too depressing for your purposes:
Georgia - Ray Charles
Always on my Mind - Willie Nelson
Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd
This one is kind of depressig too, but may be good enough for what you nee:
Kathy’s Song - Simon & Garfunkel
Man, now I’m feeling down, but in a reminiscing about loves gone by sort of way so it’s not so bad.
No Doubt’s “Making Out” fits the bill quite well.
You’ll remember me when the west wind moves
Among the fields of barley
You can tell the sun in his jealous sky
When we walked in fields of gold
“Fields of Gold” - I recommed Eva Cassidy’s cover if you can find it.
“Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree (With Anyone Else But Me)” coupled with Glenn Miller’s “American Patrol” would be great.
Getup Kids - Valentine
*Will you be my valentine if i’m a world away?
Constants aren’t so constant anymore*
Great work! There are so many songs that I just didn’t think of. I think this may just be a multi-volume set!
Counting Crows’ Raining in Baltimore
*There’s things I remember
and things I forget
I miss you
'guess that I should.
Three thousand five hundred miles away
What would you change if you could?
*
::goosebumps::
I will wait for you - recorded by many people
If it takes forever I will wait for you
For a thousand summers I will wait for you
Till you’re back beside me, till I’m holding you
Till I hear you sigh here in my arms
sj2, I’d love to see the list of songs you wind up using.
Aye! Second that!
I think this song is Right Here Waiting, in which the first line begins with “Oceans apart, day after day…”
My suggestions:
Faithfully - Journey
Forever - Kenny Loggins
I Can Wait Forever - Air Supply
Day After Day - Badfinger
I’ll Still Be Loving You - Restless Heart
When I’m gone"-- 3 Doors Down
“I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues” - Sir Elton John
Shirley - “Always Something There to Remind Me” is by Naked Eyes.
I say a little prayer for you
Aint no Mountain High Enough
There is another really sappy song that I won’t mention but it comes from a Bette Midler movie.
Sileas did a cover of Bill Withers’ Ain’t No Sunshine that I love.