Long Walk Home
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Last night I stood at your doorstep
Trying to figure out what went wrong
You just slipped something into my palm and you were gone

I could smell the same deep green of summer
'Bove me the same night sky was glowin'
In the distance I could see the town where I was born

It's gonna be a long walk home
Hey pretty darling, don't wait up for me
Gonna be a long walk home
A long walk home

In town I pass Sal's grocery
Barber shop on South Street
I looked in their faces*
They're all rank strangers to me*

Well Veteran's Hall high upon the hill
Stood silent and alone
The diner was shuttered and boarded
With a sign that just said "gone"

It's gonna be a long walk home
Hey pretty darling, don't wait up for me
Gonna be a long walk home
Hey pretty darling, don't wait up for me
Gonna be a long walk home
It's gonna be a long walk home

Here everybody has a neighbor
Everybody has a friend
Everybody has a reason to begin again

My father said "Son, we're lucky in this town,
It's a beautiful place to be born.
It just wraps its arms around you,
Nobody crowds you and nobody goes it alone"

"Your flag flyin' over the courthouse
Means certain things are set in stone.
Who we are, what we'll do and what we won't"

It's gonna be a long walk home
Hey pretty darling, don't wait up for me
Gonna be a long walk home
Hey pretty darling, don't wait up for me
Gonna be a long walk home

It's gonna be a long walk home
It's gonna be a long walk home
Hey pretty darling, don't wait up for me
Gonna be a long walk home

Hey pretty darling, don't wait up for me
Gonna be a long walk home

It's gonna be a long walk home
It's gonna be a long walk home

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Bruce Springsteen's "Long Walk Home" convey a sense of nostalgia and longing for a place that no longer feels familiar. The singer is walking through his hometown, which has changed beyond recognition, and reminiscing about the way things used to be. He visits familiar places like the grocery store and the barber shop, but he no longer recognizes the people there. Despite the changes, the singer's memories of his father and their conversations about the town are a source of comfort to him.

The lyrics suggest a theme of lost innocence, as the singer reflects on the way his hometown has lost its sense of community and togetherness. The line "your flag flyin' over the courthouse means certain things are set in stone. Who we are, what we'll do and what we won't" implies that the town used to have a clear sense of purpose and identity, but that this has been lost. However, the final verse offers some hope that the town can still find its way back to its roots and a shared sense of community.

Overall, "Long Walk Home" is a powerful meditation on the meaning of home and the ways in which our sense of belonging can change over time. The singer's journey through his hometown is a metaphor for the way that our memories and experiences shape our sense of self and the places we call home.

Line by Line Meaning

Last night I stood at your doorstep
I went to your house last night

Trying to figure out what went wrong
I was trying to understand what went between us

You just slipped something into my palm and you were gone
You gave me something and left quickly

I could smell the same deep green of summer
The air smelled like summer, just like before

'Bove me the same night sky was glowin'
The night sky was familiar and unchanged

In the distance I could see the town where I was born
I could see the town where I grew up in the distance

It's gonna be a long walk home
The journey ahead is going to be difficult

Hey pretty darling, don't wait up for me
Don't wait for me, go ahead without me

Gonna be a long walk home
The journey ahead is going to be difficult

A long walk home
It's going to be a tough journey back

In town I pass Sal's grocery
As I walk through town, I pass Sal's grocery store

Barber shop on South Street
I see a barber shop on South Street

I looked in their faces*
As I look around, I see unfamiliar faces

They're all rank strangers to me*
I don't know any of these people

Well Veteran's Hall high upon the hill
High up on a hill, I see the Veteran's Hall

Stood silent and alone
It appeared empty, with no one around

The diner was shuttered and boarded
I see a diner that's closed and boarded up

With a sign that just said "gone"
There's a sign on the diner that says it's no longer in business

Here everybody has a neighbor
In this town, everyone knows their neighbors

Everybody has a friend
People in this town are friendly with each other

Everybody has a reason to begin again
People here have the opportunity to start over

My father said "Son, we're lucky in this town,
My father always said we were fortunate to live in this town

It's a beautiful place to be born.
This town is a great place to grow up in

It just wraps its arms around you,
This town embraces you and makes you feel welcomed

Nobody crowds you and nobody goes it alone"
People here are supportive and always willing to help each other

"Your flag flyin' over the courthouse
The American flag waving over the courthouse

Means certain things are set in stone.
There are certain traditions and values that are important to this town

Who we are, what we'll do and what we won't"
This is a place where our values and beliefs are deeply ingrained