After Don Cherry's death in 1995, Eagle-Eye moved to Stockholm with his girlfriend, and he began to focus on songwriting. He soon recorded 'Desireless' (1997), and it became a hit across Scandinavia and the rest of Europe, with an American release coming in 1998. "Save Tonight" proved a major hit, and made Cherry into an international star. His second album came in 2000 (titled 'Living in the Present Future') and was remixed for the States (where it was released as 'Present/Future'), but it saw disappointing sales. Cherry's success has waxed and waned since his late 90s heyday
Long Way Around
Eagle-Eye Cherry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you pray that one day
You'll be seen between the shadows
Now that's a waist of your pain
Living your life like a saint
When it don't...no
It don't even matter
Even saints make their mistakes
All it feels like
Living in sunshine with the shades pulled down
Now I want you to see
How good life can be
You can turn around
And better your life
With the good times found
People will always take the long way around
Before you know it you'll be lost and found
Living in sunshine with the shades pulled down
People will always take the long way around
People will always take the long way around
Before you know it you'll be lost and found
Living in sunshine with the shades pulled down
People will always take the long way around
I'm not afraid of pride
When it's for the right side
Don't betray what I believe in
Stand where you want to stand
And I'll believe when I can
'Cause I'm telling you now
I been where you're living in
People will always take the long way around
Before you know it you'll be lost and found
Living in sunshine with the shades pulled down
People will always take the long way around
People will always take the long way around
Before you know it you'll be lost and found
Living in sunshine with the shades pulled down
People will always take the long way around
Will tomorrow keep it's promise
No one here can say
The past is all behind us
And all we have is today
And all we have is today
People will always take the long way around
Before you know it you'll be lost and found
Living in sunshine with the shades pulled down
People will always take the long way around
People will always take the long way around
Before you know it you'll be lost and found
Living in sunshine with the shades pulled down
People will always take the long way around
The lyrics to "Long Way Around" by Eagle-Eye Cherry speak to the idea that people often get bogged down in their struggles and cannot see the good in life. The first verse talks about the futility of living life like a saint, always trying to be perfect, and denying oneself any enjoyment. Cherry then goes on to say that everyone makes mistakes, including saints, and that people should not be so hard on themselves. The chorus repeats the phrase "people will always take the long way around", which means that people often make things harder for themselves than they need to be. They get lost in their own struggles, and it can be difficult to see a way out. The second verse speaks to the idea of standing up for what one believes in and the importance of being true to oneself. The bridge talks about the uncertainty of the future and the importance of living in the present.
Overall, the song urges listeners to see the good in life, to not be too hard on themselves, and to take the path of least resistance. It encourages people to live in the present, to not worry too much about the future, and to focus on what is important to them.
Line by Line Meaning
You say what you say
You speak your mind
And you pray that one day
You hope that someday
You'll be seen between the shadows
You'll get recognized despite the challenges
Now that's a waste of your pain
It's not worth your effort
Living your life like a saint
Living a virtuous life
When it don't...no
Yet, it doesn't matter
It don't even matter
It's irrelevant
Even saints make their mistakes
Even the righteous commit errors
Letting their dreams fall and break
Failing to fulfill their aspirations
All it feels like
Leaves them feeling like
Living in sunshine with the shades pulled down
Hiding from the bright side of life
Now I want you to see
I want you to realize
How good life can be
Life can be amazing
You can turn around
You can change your ways
And better your life
And improve your situation
With the good times found
By embracing positivity and opportunities
I'm not afraid of pride
I'm not ashamed of my ego
When it's for the right side
When it's for a righteous cause
Don't betray what I believe in
I won't compromise my beliefs
Stand where you want to stand
Take a stand where you want
And I'll believe when I can
I'll support you when I can
'Cause I'm telling you now
Because right now I'm telling you
I been where you're living in
I've been where you are at now
Will tomorrow keep it's promise
Will tomorrow bring what it promised?
No one here can say
No one has that answer
The past is all behind us
The past is gone and can't be changed
And all we have is today
All we have is the present moment
People will always take the long way around
People often choose the hard road
Before you know it you'll be lost and found
Before you're aware, you'll lose your way and find it again
Living in sunshine with the shades pulled down
Living life with a defensive attitude
People will always take the long way around
People will continue to choose the difficult path
People will always take the long way around
People will keep making more arduous choices
Before you know it you'll be lost and found
Before long, you'll experience being lost and eventually found again
Living in sunshine with the shades pulled down
Living in a self-imposed sadness and avoidance of good times
Contributed by Jackson K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@laleema908
That oddly amazing yet nostalgic feeling when you recall a song with video you saw 22 years back , remember only with lyrics but barely know artist name yet it plays at back of your mind ,suddenly you find it, 'Great Nostalgia trip down memory lane....Thank You
@racketman2u
why the hell didn't this great song get more recognition?
@clickbaitcharlie2329
racketman2u it depends on what's happening at the time, did Madonna, U2, radiohead, road rage,etc etc, and whatever hip-hop,was on, at the time, beauties fall through the cracks, to be discovered by another age.
@soniayt5858
I reckon
@rahulchaudhary8976
Keep sharing, keep sending to your friends. Haha. If it is meant to be, it will be.
@laleema908
Yep! Absolutely
@ptjww9455
EXACTLY what I think when I hear it! It was a hit, still, but nowhere near what it deserved.
@Joe-ms4kk
Brilliant song still sounds fresh for 22 years of age
@Dop3ne55
First heard this song on Smallville and i was sold 🙌🏾
@dextraist
So criminally underrated... this song is dope!