The Long and Winding Road
Aretha Franklin Lyrics
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Woah
Woah
The long and winding road, oh that leads to your door
Will never disappear
I've seen that road before (ah)
It always leads me here
Leads me to your door
The wild and windy night, that the rain (rain) oh, washed away
Has left a pool of tears (my darling, my darling) crying for the day (ah)
Why leave me standing here, let me know the way
Many times I've been alone (been alone)
And many times I've cried (I've cried)
Anyhow you'll never know (never know)
All the things (all things) that I've tried (I've tried)
Still it leads me back (still it leads me back)
To that long (long) and winding road
You left me standing here (my darling, my darling)
A long, long time ago, oh yeah
Don't leave me standing here, lead me to you door
Many times I've been alone (been alone)
And many times I've cried (I've cried)
But anyhow you'll never know (never know)
All the things (all things) that I've tried (I've tried)
Oh, many times (many times) I've been alone (been alone)
And many times I've cried (I've cried)
But anyhow (anyhow) you'll never know (never know)
All the things (all things) that I've tried (I've tried)
Many times, many times
Anyhow, you'll never know all the things that I've tried
Oh, long time (yeah yeah)
Oh (yeah yeah) sometimes crying
Oh yes I have (yeah yeah yeah) sometimes crying
Oh yes I have (oh yeah)
This been a long and winding winding road
The opening lines of this song, "The long and winding road, that leads to your door, will never disappear" sets the tone for the theme of the entire song. Aretha Franklin expresses her desire to find her way to someone's door, despite the many obstacles in her way. She has travelled down the winding road numerous times before but it always leads her to that door. She longs to know the way to that door and not be left standing alone, crying for the day. Aretha shares her vulnerability, revealing that she has been alone many times before, and her efforts may have gone unnoticed.
The imagery of the rain washing away the wild and windy night shows that even when life may seem chaotic, the storm eventually passes. The pool of tears left behind represents the emotional toll these situations can have on a person. All the efforts and attempts to find the door, through the long and winding road, may not have been successful but it still brings her closer to the door that opens to love.
This song speaks about the universal longing for love and the journey we have to undertake to achieve it. It highlights the many obstacles we can face on this journey but ultimately the hope that we hold onto brings us to our destination. Aretha's vocals and the emotive nature of the song convey a depth of feeling that is felt by anyone who has ever experienced a similar journey.
Line by Line Meaning
Woah
An exclamation expressing emotional intensity.
The long and winding road, oh that leads to your door
The pathway leading to the home of the person who is the focus of the singer's love is full of twists and turns and has been traversed many times before.
Will never disappear
The road will always exist as an unavoidable feature of the journey to the loved one's home.
I've seen that road before (ah)
The singer has travelled the winding road leading to their love's home many times before.
It always leads me here
No matter how many times the singer has travelled the winding road, it always brings them to the same place, their love's door.
Leads me to your door
The ultimate destination of the long and winding road is the entrance to the home of the person who is the focus of the singer's love.
The wild and windy night, that the rain (rain) oh, washed away
The stormy weather, filled with wind and rain, has passed, but it has left a lasting impact.
Has left a pool of tears (my darling, my darling) crying for the day (ah)
The storm has led to sadness and tears, and the singer longs for a better day to come.
Why leave me standing here, let me know the way
The singer is lost and confused, asking for direction and wondering why they have been left alone.
Many times I've been alone (been alone)
The singer has spent a lot of time by themselves, with no one to comfort them.
And many times I've cried (I've cried)
The singer has shed many tears due to their loneliness and heartache.
Anyhow you'll never know (never know)
The singer's love is oblivious to their pain and struggles.
All the things (all things) that I've tried (I've tried)
The singer has put forth great effort to connect with their love and ease their own pain, but to no avail.
Still it leads me back (still it leads me back)
Despite the hardship and heartache, the winding road continues to guide the singer to their love.
To that long (long) and winding road
The road leading to the loved one's home is a long, winding, and difficult path.
You left me standing here (my darling, my darling)
The singer's love has abandoned them, leaving them alone and in pain.
A long, long time ago, oh yeah
The singer has been alone for a very long time, without any sign of their love returning.
Don't leave me standing here, lead me to you door
The singer begs for their love to come back to them and lead them to the warmth and comfort of their home.
Many times, many times
The singer has been through this pain and heartache many times before.
Oh yes I have (yeah yeah yeah) sometimes crying
The singer has shed many tears over their loneliness and heartache.
Oh (yeah yeah) long and winding winding road
The path to the singer's love is a lengthy and difficult one, full of twists and turns.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind