Adam Again was a rock band founded in the United States and led by vocalist… Read Full Bio ↴Adam Again was a rock band founded in the United States and led by vocalist Gene Eugene, with Riki Michele on vocals, Paul Valadez on bass, Jon Knox on drums, Greg Lawless on guitar. Dan Michaels often played saxophone.

Gene Eugene's mystical voice—often mistaken for R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe—remained the least-changing element in a band that Thom Jurek of allmusic has described as "inventive and artfully canny." Adam Again's style was rock and acoustic with strong hints of funk and traces of soul running throughout. The band never achieved commercial viability and quit touring and recording together in 2000 after Eugene died in his recording studio, the "fabulous" Green Room.

So Long
Adam Again Lyrics

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I went too far
I wanted to tell a joke
Ha, ha
I'm so funny
That joke that I told
Ha, ha

I climbed that hill

I wanted to be on the top
I wanted to see the top
Big deal
I'm so tired
That hill that I climbed
Big deal

I'm so wrong
And I don't know the meaning for this song
But I know how to say
So long
I'm so tender

The way that I say
So long

Overall Meaning

The song "So Long" by Adam Again is a reflective piece that delves into themes of failure, exhaustion, and uncertainty. The first verse features the singer reflecting on a failed attempt to be funny with a joke. The use of "ha ha" repeatedly after the joke suggests a forced and uncomfortable sense of humor that falls flat. This could be metaphorical for how the singer's attempts at shining or impressing others have failed in the past. The second verse sees the singer reflecting on a hill they climbed in the hopes of reaching the top. However, upon reaching the top, they find no significance in their accomplishment and are too tired to care. This could possibly represent how achieving certain goals or significant life moments can often end up feeling underwhelming or meaningless after working incredibly hard to attain them.

The bridge where the singer sings "I'm so wrong and I don't know the meaning for this song, but I know how to say so long" could be interpreted as a moment of introspection and self-doubt. The singer admits to being wrong and uncertain about their own purpose or direction, but at the same time, they know the importance of moving on and leaving behind whatever negativity or pain they may be experiencing. The final verse features the singer showcasing a tender side to themselves as they say goodbye with a simple phrase, "so long."

Overall, the song So Long is a poignant reflection on the complexities of life and the many ways in which we may falter or struggle along the way. The acknowledgment of failure and exhaustion is coupled with a sense of hope and strength in moving on and letting go of what no longer serves us.

Line by Line Meaning

I went too far
I crossed the line and acted out of bounds

I wanted to tell a joke
I desired to amuse and entertain

Ha, ha
I laughed at my own joke

I'm so funny
I consider myself a humorous person

That joke that I told
The joke I said earlier

I climbed that hill
I put in the effort to ascend the hill

I wanted to be on the top
I desired to reach the peak

I wanted to see the top
I had a yearning to witness the view from the summit

Big deal
It was a simple accomplishment

I'm so tired
I am weary and depleted

That hill that I climbed
The hill I scaled earlier