How Long
Brownie McGhee Lead Belly & Sonny Terry Lyrics


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Baby, how long
Baby how long
Have that evenin train been gone
Baby, how long, how long, baby how long

Hear it was so
Can't see no train
But deep in my heart I feel and achin' pain
And that's a-how long, how long, babe how long

Into the station
Look up at the board
Next train around
Strawberry Road
How long, how, woo, baby how long

Make it wail everybody yeah, so sweet

Down atta station
With my head hung down
Lookin' at my sugar, when she leave this town
Baby, how long, how long, baby how long

I ain't got no money
Buy a ticket on a train
But I'll ride the blinds, baby
Be back home, again
Well, how long, how long, baby how long

See me comin'
Gon' get some plow work
I'll cut your liver
Plug your heartache
Been so long, woo swoo, baby how long

Sonny, wail about it

Feelin' bad, I'm lookin' sad
Thinkin' bout the bad luck, Sonny
I once have had
But how long, how long, honey how long

See the green grass, growin' on a hill
Never seen no green grass on a dollar bill
How long, how long, baby how long

Lower you, baby
To a hollow tree
Way you treat me
Come back to you
Hoo, low, hoo, woo, baby gone

Make it wail everybody, now

Feel so disgusted, I feel so blue
Sometimes Sonny, I don't know
What in the world I'm gonna do
Now, how long, how long, yeah how long

See that little house, sitting on the hill
You don't love me, goin try another who will
How long, how long baby, how long

See my baby, tell her I'll be runnin' home
I've been worried, ever since she been gone
How long, how, woo, baby how long

Love to see ya





Play for me, now

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Brownie McGhee, Lead Belly, and Sonny Terry's song "How Long" describe the pain of missing someone who has left on an evening train. The singer is asking how long it has been since the train left and feeling an ache in their heart. They go to the train station and see that the next train is heading to Strawberry Road. The singer doesn't have money for a ticket but will ride the train illegally to get back home. They feel bad, sad, and disgusted about their situation and uncertain about what to do. The singer sees a green hill with grass growing but realizes they’ve never seen grass growing on a dollar bill. They plead with their love to come back and even threaten to cut their pain and plug their heartache. The song ends with the singer asking someone to tell their baby that they'll be running home soon.


The lyrics to "How Long" illustrate the pain and longing that comes with missing someone. The singer's desperation is conveyed through lines like "Can't see no train, but deep in my heart I feel an achin' pain" and "I ain't got no money. Buy a ticket on a train. But I'll ride the blinds, baby. Be back home, again." The song also speaks to the social and economic struggles of the time, with lines like "Been so long, woo swoo, baby how long," and "Sometimes Sonny, I don't know what in the world I'm gonna do." Overall, "How Long" is a melancholy song that captures the heartache of missing someone and the difficulties of life during that period.


Line by Line Meaning

Baby, how long
Asking how long the evening train has been gone


Hear it was so
Although the singer can't see the train, they feel a sense of loss and pain


Into the station
Looking at the train schedule to see when the next train will arrive


Make it wail everybody yeah, so sweet
Encouraging the musicians to play the music with emotion and intensity


Down atta station
Feeling sad and defeated while waiting at the train station


I ain't got no money
Unable to buy a ticket for the train


See me comin'
Threatening to harm someone who has caused the singer pain


Feelin' bad, I'm lookin' sad
Feeling down and unlucky


See the green grass, growin' on a hill
Noticing the beauty of nature and how it contrasts with the lack of money


Lower you, baby
Asking someone to humble themselves


Feel so disgusted, I feel so blue
Feeling hopeless and unsure of what to do


See that little house, sitting on the hill
Realizing that someone doesn't love the singer and will move on to someone else


See my baby, tell her I'll be runnin' home
Missing and longing for someone who has left


Play for me, now
Asking the musicians to continue playing the music




Lyrics © Walt Disney Music Company
Written by: NICHOLAS CARR, NOAM KANIEL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@antoncupcea4264

Haaaaaaaaaaaaaa, superb!!!!! Delta blues at it's best!

@coltonthehead

Beautiful, didn't know they recorded together! Please, share more.

@Angstedpunx

Great song. thanks for posting it.

@abovetheriver

This is amazing. That you for uploading this.

@corvuscrack9505

This is the and only one version !!❤(*the very best (

@davidjames9457

GOD I LOVE THIS SO MUCH, DEFFO MY FUNERAL SONG

@Angstedpunx

@CanadianFolkBlues its on the leadbelly difinitave collection. its 3 discs I have it.

@debbyledbetter4434

That's what I wanna know, how long?!

@janvanberkelen

Anyone know when or where this was recorded?

@davidjames9457

jonah don't don't forget

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