How Long Has This Been Going On?
Audrey Hepburn & Fred Astaire Lyrics
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I was kissed by my sisters, my cousins, and my aunties.
Sad to tell, it was hell, an inferno worse than Dante's.
So my dear I swore,
"Never, never more !"
On my list, I insisted that kissing must be crossed out.
Now, I find I was blind, and oh my! How I lost out!
I could cry salty tears,
Where have I been all these years?
Little wow, tell me now,
How long has this been going on?
There were chills up my spine,
And some thrills I can't define.
Listen, sweet, I repeat,
How long has this been going on?
Oh, I feel that I could melt,
Into Heaven I'm hurled!
I know how Columbus felt,
Finding another world.
Kiss me once, then once more.
What a dunce I was before.
What a break! For Heaven's sake!
How long has this been going on?
Dear, when in your arms I creep,
That divine rendezvous,
Don't wake me, if I'm asleep,
Let me dream that it's true!
Kiss me twice, then once more.
That makes thrice, let's make it four!
What a break! For Heaven's sake!
How long has this been going on?
How long has this, been going on?
The lyrics of "How Long Has This Been Going On?" tell the story of discovering the joy of kissing after a lifetime of avoidance. The first verse sets the scene of a childhood that was overwhelming due to too much kissing and attention from family members. This overstimulation apparently caused a dislike of kissing that lasted into adulthood. The second verse shows a change in attitude, with the singer realizing that they have been missing out on something wonderful. By the third verse, the joy of kissing has made the singer feel like they are in heaven, and they want the feeling to last forever, never wanting to wake up from the dream. The final verse asks for more kisses, suggesting that the singer has gone from aversion to addiction.
The lyrics of this song are full of clever wordplay and witty rhymes, making it an enjoyable listen. The words are also somewhat ambiguous, leaving room for interpretation based on personal experience. The song refreshingly discusses the pleasure that can come from giving in to something that was previously avoided, and touches on the idea of addiction to pleasure. The playful tone of the song, combined with the jazzy music, makes it a fun listen that is still relevant today.
Line by Line Meaning
As a tot, when I trotted in little velvet panties,
As a child, when I ran around in my fancy clothes,
I was kissed by my sisters, my cousins, and my aunties.
My relatives would give me lots of kisses.
Sad to tell, it was hell, an inferno worse than Dante's.
Unfortunately, all those kisses were actually pretty uncomfortable.
So my dear I swore,
After all that, I made a vow to myself:
"Never, never more !"
"I will never allow that to happen again!"
On my list, I insisted that kissing must be crossed out.
I wrote down a list of things that I refused to let happen to me, and kissing was one of them.
Now, I find I was blind, and oh my! How I lost out!
But now I realize how foolish I was to reject all those kisses, and I regret missing out on that experience.
I could cry salty tears,
I feel so emotional about this realization,
Where have I been all these years?
and I wonder why it took me so long to see the value in kissing.
Little wow, tell me now,
Wow, can you believe it? Please, explain to me,
How long has this been going on?
why didn't anyone tell me sooner that kissing is actually enjoyable?
There were chills up my spine,
When I finally experienced a kiss,
And some thrills I can't define.
It was a thrilling feeling that I can't put into words.
Listen, sweet, I repeat,
I want you to understand,
How long has this been going on?
why didn't anyone tell me sooner that kissing is actually enjoyable?
Oh, I feel that I could melt,
I'm so overwhelmed by my newfound appreciation for kissing,
Into Heaven I'm hurled!
that I feel like I'm being transported to another world.
I know how Columbus felt,
I can imagine that this is how Columbus felt when he discovered the New World,
Finding another world.
he was amazed and in awe of what he had discovered.
Kiss me once, then once more.
Please kiss me, and then kiss me again.
What a dunce I was before.
I can't believe how foolish I was to reject kissing in the past.
What a break! For Heaven's sake!
What a stroke of luck! I can't believe my good fortune!
How long has this been going on?
Why did nobody tell me sooner that kissing is actually enjoyable?
Dear, when in your arms I creep,
When I'm close to you,
That divine rendezvous,
it feels like I'm having an amazing and sacred experience.
Don't wake me, if I'm asleep,
If I'm dreaming, please don't wake me up,
Let me dream that it's true!
because this feels so wonderful that I don't want it to end.
Kiss me twice, then once more.
I want you to keep kissing me, over and over again.
That makes thrice, let's make it four!
That's three kisses, let's have one more!
How long has this been going on?
I still can't believe that I was so wrong about kissing for so long. Why didn't anyone tell me sooner?
How long has this, been going on?
I'm still in disbelief that I was so ignorant about the pleasures of kissing for so many years.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ira Gershwin, George Gershwin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind