Long recorded the 10-song collection Dirty Pond Songs in his London bedroom, traffic noises and all. “Left to Lie” from Dirty Pond Songs, became an iTunes favorite, topping the site’s “Unsigned” chart and reaching #8 on its Folk Music chart. “The Bounty of Mary Jane” from Dirty Pond Songs and a live version of his “Being a Mockingbird”, recorded at Arlene’s Grocery in New York City, were also released via iTunes. “The Dangerous Summer” tour continued until the end of 2009, logging some 80 performances in all.
Long embarked upon the “Left to Lie” tour of Europe in early 2010 and began to record his first studio CD with producer Grammy winner Liam Watson at Toe Rag Studios in London. He also released a collection of live performances from the Dangerous Summer 2009 tour. "My Darling Belle" from that collection went to #2 on iTunes' Singer-Songwriter chart.
On April 23, 2010, Long officially signed on to the roster at ATO Records, the label co-founded by musician Dave Matthews, which is home to such artists as Radiohead, David Gray, Ben Kweller, Liz Phair, and more. They released his debut album, "A Winter Tale", on February 1, 2011. During 2010, he toured with Matt Pond PA during which time he met the Kalob Griffin Band, also known as KGB, who would become his backing band for subsequent U.S. dates that year, including the Mile High Festival in Denver, the xPoNential Music Festival in Philadelphia and the Troubadour in Los Angeles. He did a solo tour of Europe in the fall, followed by North American dates in support of Michael Franti. He ended the year with a fund-raising event at the Housing Works Bookstore Cafe in Manhattan where he debuted his new touring band.
Long spent most of 2011 promoting the album "A Winter Tale," which began with a tour in North America. He also made an appearance on The Tonight Show on February 3, 2011 and on The Early Show on August 8, 2011. During the summer, as part of the legendary Bonnaroo Music Festival, he played on the Cafe Stage. The Dave Matthews Band Caravan included him in the line-up in Atlantic City, NJ and in Chicago, IL. He played on the BMI stage at Austin City Limits Music Festival in September. Long made "another live" recorded EP called "The Backing Singer" in July 2011, with the producer, Jesse Lauter. In October 2011, he kicked off "The Losing My Brotherhood Tour" with shows in Canada, the United States, and Europe.
Long started 2012 by recording his sophomore album, produced by Ted Hutt, and appeared on the Cayamo Cruise in February. On February 23, he announced online that he would be doing a weekly "song of the week," (for an undisclosed period of time), that he records at home. He spent most of April supporting the acoustic guitar duo, Rodrigo y Gabriela, on tour, but ended the month opening a show for Iron & Wine. In between supporting Steve Winwood on tour in May, Long released his first book of poetry, "Losing My Brotherhood." He stated that a "discipline aspect allowed me to separate the poems from my music.” July consisted of Long opening shows for The Mother Hips in California as well as a performance and poetry reading at Barnes & Noble in L.A. for his book. He followed with shows in the western U.S. and then returned to opening for Steve Winwood on tour in the fall. After Hurricane Sandy hit the east coast of the United States in October of 2012, Long donated his 1965 Epiphone Cabellero guitar to the Red Cross Hurricane Relief fund. For the victims, he later participated in the benefit "A Love Letter to New York" that also included Joan Osborne, Matisyahu, and others.
A Stranger Song
Bobby Long Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My night is dark
My love won't answer the call
With the rain like steel upon my face
My heart is certain to fall
Now I'm tired of sins corrupting me
And the fever turning me in
But at least I know where I've been
My mouth is dry and I cannot speak
I've lost all faith in you
I admit I've lost a few
It's like my words against the wind
So I'm heading down to that long lost place
Where the light won't bounce off the floor
And as the world turns to stare at me
My footsteps head straight to the door
So I'm alone again in this lonely place
With no shadow at my side
My head is littered with your lust
And it's cold and it's rancid outside
And I'm outside
My mouth is dry and I cannot speak
I've lost all faith in you
I admit I've lost a few
It's like my words against the wind
I can't take this love and it's pulling me in
I'm tied to the floor and I'm cut at the seams
I'm crazy in love and I'm crazy to die
I'm lost to this world and I don't know why
Oh, and I don't know why
'Cause my mouth is dry and I cannot speak
I've lost all faith in you
I admit I've lost a few
It's like my words against the wind
And I've been down for twelve half-days
And I've kinda hit the floor
I'm reaching for something more
It's like my words against the wind
I'm against the wind
I'm against the wind now
Against the wind
Against the wind
Oh, I'm against the wind
Oh, I'm against the wind now
In “A Stranger Song,” Bobby Long sings about feeling lost, alone, and uncertain about the future. He describes his days as being filled with death and his nights as dark, with no response from his love. His heart is heavy and certain to fall, and he longs to escape sins that have corrupted him and a fever that is turning him in. Long admits that he has lost faith in his love and himself, and that his words feel like they are against the wind - helpless and unable to make a difference.
Long seems to be headed towards a place where the light won’t bounce off the floor, and where he will be alone. Despite this, he seems to have accepted his current state and acknowledges the lust that fills his head. His love is pulling him in, tying him to the floor and cutting him at the seams, but he is crazy in love and crazy to die. He’s lost to this world and doesn’t know why. Long is against the wind now, and has been down for 12 half-days.
The song represents a feeling of hopelessness, loneliness, and despair. Despite the melancholy theme, it is beautifully written and the melody is haunting. The chorus is a recurring theme throughout the song, and it emphasizes Long’s feelings of being trapped and helpless.
Line by Line Meaning
My day is death
I feel like death during the day
My night is dark
I feel like darkness surrounds me at night
My love won't answer the call
The person I love is not responding to my attempts to communicate
With the rain like steel upon my face
The rain is hitting me hard like sharp steel
My heart is certain to fall
I know my heart will be broken
Now I'm tired of sins corrupting me
I'm exhausted from being corrupted by my mistakes
And the fever turning me in
My feverish state is affecting my behavior
I don't know where I am headed to
I have no idea where I am going in life
But at least I know where I've been
I have a clear understanding of my past experiences
My mouth is dry and I cannot speak
I'm feeling helpless and unable to express myself
I've lost all faith in you
I have no faith in the person I once trusted
I admit I've lost a few
I acknowledge that I've lost some battles
It's like my words against the wind
My words are powerless and ineffective against the strength of my problems
So I'm heading down to that long lost place
I'm going to a forgotten and deserted location
Where the light won't bounce off the floor
It's so dark there that no light can reflect off the floor
And as the world turns to stare at me
Everyone is staring at me as if something is wrong
My footsteps head straight to the door
I'm not wasting any time, I'm going straight to the exit
So I'm alone again in this lonely place
I'm back to being alone in this sad location
With no shadow at my side
I don't have anyone to support me
My head is littered with your lust
I can't stop thinking about my sexual desire for this person
And it's cold and it's rancid outside
The weather is unpleasant, cold and foul-smelling
I can't take this love and it's pulling me in
I'm overwhelmed by my love for this person and it's drawing me closer to them
I'm tied to the floor and I'm cut at the seams
I'm stuck and feeling ripped apart by my situation
I'm crazy in love and I'm crazy to die
I'm passionately in love and willing to die for this person
I'm lost to this world and I don't know why
I'm disconnected from reality and don't understand why
And I've been down for twelve half-days
I've been struggling for a long time
And I've kinda hit the floor
I've hit rock bottom
I'm reaching for something more
I'm trying to find something better than where I am currently
I'm against the wind
I'm fighting against harsh, unfavorable circumstances
I'm against the wind now
I'm currently facing these challenges head-on
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: ROBERT THOMAS LONG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Yvonne Yaar
Love the style, the voice and his storytelling - very special. I saw him live in Downtown Toms River. I was in awe. Someone in my life recently passed and I could relate to a lot of the sadness. Thank you Bobbty.
Alisia Danielson
God I love his voice!
apc467
damn this is too good
David Michael
Not really.
Linda B
I am in love!
Graziella Mayra Albuquerque
I Love song!!! ;)
Akira Rza
What kind of guitar is this? 😊🎸
Brandon Dillman
Need lyrics vid
weberv41
This is a great song, but it's an old one from his first album, so I doubt they'd ever make a lyric video. Go out and buy "A Winter Tale" - lyrics are included. :)