In the late 1980s Brickell was the lead singer with the (now renamed) folk-rock group Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, whose 1988 debut album Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars was a critical and commercial success. The band's follow-up album, Ghost of a Dog (1990), fared less well. As a solo artist, Brickell released Picture Perfect Morning (1994) and Volcano (2003). In 2006 she reunited with some of the original members of the New Bohemians and they released the Stranger Things album.
Brickell had a role as a folk singer in the 1989 film Born on the Fourth of July. Her version of Bob Dylan's "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" is featured on the film's soundtrack. Many computer users know her from the "Good Times" video which was included as part of the multimedia samples on the Windows 95 installation CD-ROM.
Brickell married songwriter Paul Simon in 1992. They have three children.
Came A Long Way
Edie Brickell Lyrics
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I will not leave.
I will not run.
They went away, and let me down.
They broke me down.
When I was young.
Those days are gone.
For the love what they said.
There's no mistake.
I lay down no blame.
I came along to understand.
Help me understand.
I know you can. You are my star. You'll never fall.
For the love what they said.
For the love what they did.
For the love all I have.
For the love all I give.
There's no mistake.
I lay down no blame.
For the love what they said.
For the love what they did.
There's no mistake.
Whats done is done.
Our hearts may break.
Our love goes on and on and on
The lyrics of Edie Brickell's "Came a Long Way" speak to the power of love and the resilience of the human spirit. In the first verse, the singer declares that they have journeyed a great distance for the sake of love and they will not give up or abandon that love. The second verse references past hurt and betrayal by others, specifically those who have let the singer down and broken them in the past. However, the singer declares that those days are now gone and they are focused on understanding and building their current love. They know that their partner is their "star" and will never fall, offering a sense of stability in the midst of uncertainty.
The chorus speaks to the weight of love and the sacrifices that are made for it, both in terms of what others have said or done in the past, as well as what the singer is willing to give up for the sake of their current love. However, the singer does not lay blame or make excuses, instead choosing to move forward and focus on the present and future, even if their hearts may break along the way. The repeating phrase "there's no mistake" suggests a sense of inevitability or fate driving the singer's journey, and they are determined to see it through to the end.
Line by Line Meaning
I came a long way for your love.
I have come a great distance to pursue your love.
I will not leave.
I am committed to staying, no matter what happens.
I will not run.
I will not flee, no matter how difficult it becomes.
They went away, and let me down.
Those who were once close to me abandoned me and disappointed me.
They broke me down.
Their actions caused me immense pain and distress.
When I was young.
I experienced this trauma when I was still very inexperienced and vulnerable.
Those days are gone.
The past is over and I am ready to move on from my pain.
For the love what they said.
Their words were spoken out of love, despite their actions.
For the love what they did.
Their actions were motivated by love, even if it caused pain.
There's no mistake.
Everything that happened was inevitable and happened for a reason.
I lay down no blame.
I am not accusing anyone of wrongdoing and do not hold any grudges.
I came along to understand.
I went through this pain in order to learn and grow.
Help me understand.
I am still seeking understanding and clarity about what happened.
I know you can. You are my star. You'll never fall.
I trust that you are able and capable of helping me come to an understanding. I believe you are a shining light that will always be there for me.
For the love all I have.
The love that I have is all encompassing and infinite.
For the love all I give.
I give my love freely and without reservation.
Whats done is done.
The past cannot be changed, and it's important to let go and move forward.
Our hearts may break.
We may experience pain and heartbreak in life.
Our love goes on and on and on.
But despite the pain, true love will persist and thrive through any adversity.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, THE ROYALTY NETWORK INC., Royalty Network
Written by: EDIE BRICKELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind