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How Long
Ace Lyrics


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How long has this been going on?
How long has this been going on?

Well, if friends with their fancy persuasion
Don't admit that it's part of a scheme
Then I can't help but have my suspicions
'Cause I ain't quite as dumb as I seem
And you said you was never intending
To break up our scene in this way
But there ain't any use in pretending
It could happen to us any day

How long has this been going on?
How long has this been going on?

Oh, your friends with their fancy persuasion
Don't admit that it's part of a scheme
But I can't help but have my suspicions
'Cause I ain't quite as dumb as I seem
Oh, you said you was never intending
To break up our scene in this way
But there ain't any use in pretending
It could happen to us any day

And how long has this been going on?
How long has this been going on?
How long?
How long has this been going on?
How long has this, how long has this been going on?
How long, how long has this been going on?
How long has this been going on?

Overall Meaning

In these lyrics to Ace's song "How Long," the singer is questioning the longevity of a situation where a trusted friend has betrayed him in some way. The repetition of the chorus "How long has this been going on?" shows how the singer is struggling to understand how he could have been fooled for so long. He notes that even though his friends might deny any ill intent, he still has his suspicions and recognizes that he is not as naive as he might appear.


The bridge of the song reiterates the idea that the singer's friend didn't intend to hurt him but "it could happen to us any day." This brings up the theme of trust and betrayal and how sometimes, even well-intentioned people can break that trust. The song as a whole has a melancholy tone, with the slow, steady beat and the mournful harmonica adding to the sense of loss and betrayal.


Overall, "How Long" is a powerful commentary on the human experience of betrayal and the slow process of regaining trust after it has been broken.


Line by Line Meaning

How long has this been going on?
Wondering about the duration of the happening.


How long has this been going on?
Repeating the question to emphasize its importance.


Well, if friends with their fancy persuasion
If people who seem convinced and influential say something,


Don't admit that it's part of a scheme
But they are not revealing their secret plan,


Then I can't help but have my suspicions
I cannot avoid being doubtful,


'Cause I ain't quite as dumb as I seem
Because I am smarter than I appear to be.


And you said you was never intending
You claimed that you never meant to,


To break up our scene in this way
To ruin what we had going on between us,


But there ain't any use in pretending
But there is no point in pretending,


It could happen to us any day
That it couldn’t happen to us someday.


Oh, your friends with their fancy persuasion
Oh, those people with their convincing ways,


Don't admit that it's part of a scheme
They don’t reveal their hidden intentions,


But I can't help but have my suspicions
I can’t help but be doubtful,


'Cause I ain't quite as dumb as I seem
Because I am smarter than what others think of me.


Oh, you said you was never intending
You claimed that you never intended to do that,


To break up our scene in this way
To end what we have between us in this way,


But there ain't any use in pretending
No sense in pretending,


It could happen to us any day
It could happen to us too, anytime.


And how long has this been going on?
Reiterating the question in search of the truth.


How long has this been going on?
Again, asking how long it has been.


How long?
One last time asking how long this has been happening.


How long has this been going on?
Final asking of how long it has been happening.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Tratore
Written by: Paul Melvyn Carrack

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@Johanna-xy9py

If you are still listening
to this in 2024!...✨️✨️✨️
"I LOVE YOU!!" .... ✨️♥️✨️

@sabitanathkrishna-biswas9232

i was a victim of generational witchcraft craft that took my dad away! Thank you for uploading this song!

@user-qt6xe4be4r

Discovered this song in the Lipps inc version many moons ago. But this original has a certain magic about it

@iaminhuman9357

Thanks

@user-we1fr2oj7n

❤❤😂❤❤❤🎉i Love you too !!!!!!!😂❤❤

@CynthiaAllenStrawberry

4 More Replies...

@jester99sch

This song was recorded in July 1974 which was 50 years ago and it has stood the test of time fabulously!

@anthonylitwicki3088

Yes I was in tenth grade then 50 years ago. Now heading to 65 yrs old (young) still jamming to it!

@stormjanaszak7406

My son is 19, he sang this at karaoke this weekend, I didn't know he knew this song. ACE!

@jester99sch

@@stormjanaszak7406 Ace may have been one of many one hit wonders in the 70s but this song wasn't just any one hit wonder! This song stands as a timeless classic that never lost its splendor!

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