The Long Road
Ali Khan Nusrat Fateh & Eddie Vedder Lyrics


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And I wished for so long, cannot stay.
All the precious moments, cannot stay.
It's not like wings have fallen, cannot stay.
But still something's missing, cannot say.

Holding hands of daughters and sons,
And their faiths are falling down.
I have wished for so long
How I wish for you today.

Will I walk the long road? Cannot stay
There's no need to say goodbye

All the friends and family.
All the memories going round.
I have wished for so long.
How I wish for you today.

And the wind keeps rollin',
And the sky keeps turning gray.
And the sun is set
The sun will rise another day.

I have wished for so long
How I wish for you today.
I have wished for so long
How I wish for you today.





Will I walk the long road?
We all walk the long road

Overall Meaning

These lyrics are rich in emotion and reflection, expressing a yearning for something that is missing and a recognition of the fleeting nature of time. The opening lines, "And I wished for so long, cannot stay / All the precious moments, cannot stay / It's not like wings have fallen, cannot stay / But still something's missing, cannot say," convey a sense of longing and disappointment with the impermanence of life. The singer has been wishing for something, perhaps a feeling of fulfillment or completeness, but it continues to elude them.


The following lines describe the singer holding hands with their children, whose "faiths are falling down." This could be interpreted in a few ways - it could suggest that the children are losing their religious faith, their faith in humanity, or their faith in the world around them. Regardless of the exact meaning, it adds another layer of complexity to the singer's emotions. They have been wishing for something for a long time, and now their children are facing challenges as well.


The chorus, with its repetition of "Will I walk the long road? Cannot stay / There's no need to say goodbye," reinforces the theme of impermanence and the inevitability of change. The long road could be interpreted as the journey of life, with all its ups and downs. The singer acknowledges that goodbyes will eventually come, but there is no need to dwell on them. Instead, the focus should be on the present moment and the connections we have with those around us.


Overall, the lyrics of "The Long Road" are poignant and powerful, capturing the bittersweet nature of life and the importance of cherishing what we have while we have it.


Line by Line Meaning

And I wished for so long, cannot stay.
I've been yearning for something for a long time, but it cannot last forever.


All the precious moments, cannot stay.
Even the most beautiful and significant moments in life eventually come to an end.


It's not like wings have fallen, cannot stay.
Nothing has actually gone completely wrong, but something feels missing and incomplete.


But still something's missing, cannot say.
Though I can't put my finger on what it is, there's something important that's absent.


Holding hands of daughters and sons,
Having close and loving relationships with one's children.


And their faiths are falling down.
Despite one's parental guidance and nurturing, the children are losing hope and optimism.


I have wished for so long
I've been longing for a while.


How I wish for you today.
I desire your presence with all my heart right now.


Will I walk the long road? Cannot stay
Am I destined for a challenging and difficult journey? It seems like there's no way around it.


There's no need to say goodbye
There's no reason to part ways permanently.


All the friends and family.
Everyone I care about.


All the memories going round.
The past experiences and recollections that continue to resurface.


And the wind keeps rollin',
The unstoppable and ever-present force of change and movement.


And the sky keeps turning gray.
The atmosphere can be somber and dull, sometimes reflecting our own internal emotions.


And the sun is set
The day has come to an end.


The sun will rise another day.
Tomorrow is a new opportunity and chance for growth and renewal.


We all walk the long road
Life is full of obstacles and difficulties, but we all must face them and persist.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: EDDIE VEDDER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@sachingirinepal

LYRICS
And I wished for so long... cannot stay.
All the precious moments... cannot stay.
It's not like wings have fallen... cannot stay.
But still something's missing... cannot say.

Holding hands of daughters and sons,
And their faiths are falling down, down, down, down...
I have wished for so long...
How I wish for you today.

Will I walk the long road? Cannot stay...
There's no need to say goodbye...(say goodbye)

All the friends and family.
All the memories going round, round, round, round...
I have wished for so long.
How I wish for you today.

And the wind keeps rollin',
And the sky keeps turning gray.
And the sun is set...
The sun will rise another day.

I have wished for so long...
How I wish for you today.
I have wished for so long...
How I wish for you today.

Will I walk the long road?
We all walk the long road...



All comments from YouTube:

@subicdreams4385

End of the night, Walking the beach alone looking at the stars, I decide the lie down by the waters edge and listen to this song on repeat. Perfection

@curtispsf

My eternal thanks to Ravi Shankar for telling me about Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan in 1971 at the Concert For Bangladesh. I was just 19, and today all I know is that I know nothing and everything. Love to India AND Pakistan from the citizens of the United States. We are not our government.

@faisal1582

You are not your government. We know brother. Peace.

@UnbiasedTruth..

What did ravi say about Ustad Nusrat Fathe Ali Khan

@QueerAndUnplugged

I asked him for recommendations of vocalists from India and/or Pakistan. Without hesitation, he mentioned Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. I even asked him to write Nusrat's name down for me; he did.

@QueerAndUnplugged

@@faisal1582 Thank You. Peace to you also in the Universal Language of Music which transcends ALL borders.

@gargeebhattacharjee8681

Thank you brother.
Love to the United States too.

3 More Replies...

@lecoexpands

Beautiful... It doesn't get eddie vedder than this...

@thekub32

Hahahaha! :D

@1979kath

haha love your comment :)

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