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.
Left to lie
Bobby Long Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm nearly old
I'm almost young
Or so I'm told
You say time is a healer
Faith is death
Or left to die
Broken shame
And so I'll lie
I'm left to lie
I floated down
Like a long lost dream
As my savior flew
From his stitched up seams
Cause I'm afraid to die
I'm nearly old
I'm almost young
So I'm told
They say I would be better
Far from here
Left alone
But now my luck's even cheaper
I'm played out by the traffic drones
I'm still alone
Nowhere to go
I floated down
Like a long lost dream
'Cause my savior flew
From his stitched up seams
'Cause my friends think I
Will be the first to die
I'm far, far too scared
To ask them why
'Cause I'm afraid to die
I'm nearly old
I'm almost young
Or so I'm told
Or so I'm told
The lyrics in Bobby Long's song "Left to Lie" dive deep into themes of fear, loneliness, and acceptance. The first stanza sets the tone for the song, revealing a fear of death and a sense of feeling lost in time. Long seems to be grappling with the concept of aging, neither feeling quite old nor quite young. He questions whether time really does heal all wounds, or if having faith only leads to death. At the same time, Long doesn't want to be a burden on anyone else, opting to keep his pain and shame to himself.
The second stanza takes a more melancholic turn, with Long exploring the idea of being "left to lie," floating aimlessly like a lost dream. He mentions a savior who has flown away from him, leaving him to fend for himself in a world filled with apathy and alienation. The idea of being isolated and alone is a prevalent theme throughout the song, with Long feeling as if he has nowhere to go and no one to turn to.
The final stanza touches on the fear of death once again, with Long revealing that his friends believe he will be the first to go. He's too afraid to ask them why, feeling as if this fear is something he has to confront on his own. The song ends on a somber note, with Long echoing the sentiments of the first stanza.
Overall, "Left to Lie" is a poignant and introspective song that delves into complex emotions and experiences. It highlights the fear of death and isolation that many people feel, especially when they are in the throes of pain and suffering.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm afraid to die
The singer is frightened by the idea of death
I'm nearly old
The singer is approaching old age
I'm almost young
The singer feels like they still have a youthful spirit, despite their age
Or so I'm told
The artist is unsure if they truly have a youthful spirit or if others are just telling them that
You say time is a healer
Someone has told the artist that time can heal emotional wounds
Faith is death
The singer disagrees with the idea that having faith can bring a sense of peace or closure about death
Or left to die
The singer doesn't know what to believe about what happens after death
I won't put my strain on another
The artist doesn't want to burden anyone else with their worries or fears
Broken shame
The artist feels ashamed of their own struggles and vulnerabilities
And so I'll lie
The artist will keep their fears and insecurities to themselves
I'm left to lie
The singer has no one to confide in and must keep their feelings bottled up
I floated down
The artist is drifting aimlessly through life
Like a long lost dream
The singer's life feels like a distant memory or something they can barely remember
As my savior flew
The singer had hoped that someone else could save them or offer them guidance, but it didn't happen
From his stitched up seams
The person the singer was looking to for help or support was also dealing with their own problems and couldn't help the singer
They say I would be better
Other people believe that the artist's life would be easier or more fulfilling if they were somewhere else
Far from here
Other people believe the artist needs to be physically removed from their current environment
Left alone
Others think the singer needs to learn to rely on themselves and be independent
But now my luck's even cheaper
Things are getting worse for the singer, instead of improving
I'm played out by the traffic drones
Life feels monotonous and unchanging for the artist
I'm still alone
The artist doesn't have any meaningful connections or relationships in their life
Nowhere to go
The artist doesn't have any clear direction in their life or any goals to work towards
'Cause my friends think I
There are people in the singer's life who have formed opinions about them
Will be the first to die
Others are worried that the artist will suffer a premature death
I'm far, far too scared
The singer is afraid to ask why others have formed this opinion of them
To ask them why
The singer is afraid of what the answer might be
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ROBERT THOMAS LONG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
jla
my favorite song... absolutely love him and he's amazing live =0)
jeepinindiana
Saw him live he sounds amazing
Suzanne Hall
I met him two months ago againat an Athens Ga gig, my birthday treat to myself, He gave me a hug and was sooooo nice :)
SuperMikeyLive
Is it just youtube messing up the sound quality of his recordings, or is his voice just so unique in tone and pitch that his sound tech can't quite capture it?
FunnyLobster⁷
Wonderful....
Rosa Ventura
Ver nice and amazing
LaFemmeOduenyi
IDK what makes Bobby hotter, that voice or that face? The world may never know...smh
Logan G. Mohler
I have an answer, the voice
Logan G. Mohler
I love you, lilayna! You’re the best sis ever
SuperMikeyLive
suggestion: over-under mics to capture more of the the wave dispersion and cut down on the hiss.