Stewart grew up in the coastal resort town of Bournemouth, Dorset. According to Songfacts, in days of youthful folly Stewart played in a beat group with later BBC DJ Tony Blackburn before moving to the capital to seek fortune and fame.
Having bought his first guitar from future Police guitarist Andy Summers, Stewart traded in his electric guitar for an acoustic guitar when he was offered a weekly slot at Bunjies Coffee House in London's Soho in 1965. From there, he went on to compete at the Les Cousins folk club on Greek Street, where he played alongside Cat Stevens, Bert Jansch, Van Morrison, Roy Harper and Ralph McTell
Although he had his share of the breaks, including a tenure at Bunjees coffee house and a record deal with CBS, life wasn't always easy for the young troubadour; his first serious love affair ended in disaster, and he experienced all the usual insecurities of the stranger in the big city trying to find his way.
In January 1970, Melody Maker named his second release Love Chronicles its Folk Album Of The Year, but in spite of his obviously carving out quite a name for himself, it was not until Year Of The Cat - the single and even more so the monster album - that he really shot to fame.
He emigrated to the United States as his career took off in the mid 1970s, and still lives in California. While studio albums are now few and far between, he still tours extensively in the United States, and, most years, in Europe. Recordings of concerts are often made available through his fan clubs.
Long Way Home
Al Stewart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And with love's bud shorn
Now must all dalliance hither crumble and wither
Oh strange, methought it strange
Thou couldst deprive me of my crown
And my freedom that thou cast upon me as
Litter bears fruit of bitter strain
If thus a chance were gained
To resurrect that part of your wanton heart
To whose grave my own is chained
And hold, ere thou dost go
Were not thy moments gilded too
And in honesty didst thou not measure for measure
Countenance pleasure
Cold were't thou so cold
This in thy mind be frozen too
And will not Spring be reborn
But might the sun thaw the frost here
That all be not lost herein
And I would rather, zounds
It were hell's own hounds
Whose foul breath upon my face
Did portent my doom, than to bear the gloom
Of a world stripped of thy grace
And so in truth I know
Yes it will be a long way down
And if go thou must, ere we should meet accidental
Prithee be gentle
And though distant now
Perchance the hand of time may soothe
And though lost at six, if I should live to be seven
I might forget Stephanie
The song "Long Way Home" by Al Stewart is a unique and emotional portrayal of a man's feelings after a failed relationship. The lyrics are complex, and the interpretation requires careful consideration. The man is speaking to his former lover, whom he addresses as "Maid." He acknowledges that he sees that it is a long and difficult way down from where they are, and that it will be hard to recover from the end of their relationship. He talks about how love has been taken away from them, and all of the things that they used to enjoy together are now crumbling and dying.
The singer then goes on to discuss how strange it is that his former lover took away his crown and his freedom. He describes how he feels she cast her freedom upon him like litter, and now that has borne bitter fruit. He talks about how he would go to great lengths to try to resurrect the part of her heart to which he is connected, including facing a dragon's tooth. He questions whether his former lover had any moments of genuine pleasure with him or whether it was all measured coldly. Finally, he expresses his desire to have her back, even if it meant facing hell's hounds rather than living in a world without her.
The song showcases the deep emotions and pain of a failed relationship. It highlights the fact that relationships are sometimes delicate, and if they aren't handled carefully, they can cause significant pain and heartache. It shows that sometimes love can be taken away, and trying to reclaim it can seem like a daunting task. However, the song also leaves room for hope that perhaps someone can find love again after enduring the long way down.
Line by Line Meaning
Maid, truly I see now it must be a long way down
I acknowledge that our relationship is over and it will not be easy to move on.
And with love's bud shorn
With our love cut short and not given an opportunity to blossom.
Now must all dalliance hither crumble and wither
Our flirtatious behavior and playful activities must come to an end and fade away.
Oh strange, methought it strange
It is peculiar and surprising to me that you would take away my sense of freedom.
Thou couldst deprive me of my crown
You have taken away my sense of power and control in this relationship.
And my freedom that thou cast upon me as Litter bears fruit of bitter strain
The freedom you granted me has caused negative consequences and suffering in our relationship.
And I would go forsooth to the dragon's tooth If thus a chance were gained
I would go to great lengths and face impossible dangers if it meant having another chance with you.
To resurrect that part of your wanton heart To whose grave my own is chained
I hope to revive the passionate side of your heart that connects to my own, which feels trapped and helpless.
And hold, ere thou dost go Were not thy moments gilded too
Before you leave, consider that the happy memories we shared were not just mine, but yours as well.
And in honesty didst thou not measure for measure Countenance pleasure
You also enjoyed the pleasure that we took from each other in this relationship, it was not one-sided.
Cold were't thou so cold This in thy mind be frozen too
If you were emotionless and indifferent, let that attitude stay frozen in your mind.
And will not Spring be reborn But might the sun thaw the frost here That all be not lost herein
Like the changing of seasons, perhaps our love can be renewed and brought back to life if we let it thaw slowly.
And I would rather, zounds It were hell's own hounds Whose foul breath upon my face Did portent my doom, than to bear the gloom Of a world stripped of thy grace
I would rather face death and destruction if it meant never having to face a life without your love and kindness.
And so in truth I know Yes it will be a long way down
In reality, I am aware that accepting the end of this relationship will be a difficult and long journey.
And if go thou must, ere we should meet accidental Prithee be gentle
If we do happen to come across each other by accident, please be kind and gentle in our interactions.
And though distant now Perchance the hand of time may soothe And though lost at six, if I should live to be seven I might forget Stephanie
Although we are currently far apart, maybe time can heal our wounds and help us forget the painful memories of our relationship, like how a child may forget something they lost at a young age.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALISTAIR IAN STEWART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Greg W
Thanks for the great post, long time fan of Al Stewart who has most all studio releases, butI had not heard this "Gem"! Great Vintage music from the Shot in the dark days! Such talent not ever seen in these dark days. Great work!