How Long
Farm - the Lyrics
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You asked me when I thought the wall would fall
That was less than two years ago
Impossible to see impossible to know
When the people make up their minds
Courage and strength they will always find
When the people wanna have their say
Won't you tell me how long
How long
Won't you tell me how long
Must this go on
Ivory towers and those meaningless words
Recited by people like a well known verse
We're into the 90's and the pain goes on
Listen to the people with their freedom songs
Won't you tell me how long
How long
Won't you tell me how long
Must this go on
Won't you tell me how long
How long
Won't you tell me how long
Must this go on (on and on and on,
On and on and on, on and on and on,
On and on and on)
The song "How Long" by British band The Farm is a powerful commentary on social and political issues, particularly the struggle for freedom and democracy. The opening lines recall a conversation with someone about the fall of a wall, which could be interpreted as a metaphor for the fall of oppressive regimes or systems. The lyrics suggest that the time frame for such change can be unpredictable, as it was impossible to know when the wall would fall. The song is likely inspired by the events of the late 1980s and early 1990s when many communist countries in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union were experiencing massive political change.
The next lines of the song speak to the power of a united people, as they can find the courage and strength needed to effect change. The lyrics argue that it is the people who must lead the way, and that true democracy is achieved when people have the opportunity to have their voices heard. The song also critiques those who occupy "ivory towers" and recite meaningless words without truly understanding or caring about the struggles of those they seek to govern.
Overall, "How Long" is a call for action and change, a plea for people to speak up and fight for their rights. It highlights the pain and suffering that can result from oppressive systems, while also holding out hope for a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
You remember when I stood by the wall
I'm reminding you of a time we had a conversation standing by a wall
You asked me when I thought the wall would fall
You asked me when I thought a specific wall would collapse or be destroyed
That was less than two years ago
The conversation we had about the wall occurred less than two years ago
Impossible to see impossible to know
At that time, it was impossible to predict when or if the wall would fall
When the people make up their minds
When a group of people collectively come to a decision
Courage and strength they will always find
They will always find the courage and strength to act on their decision
Nobody can really lead the way
No one person can truly guide or direct a group of people towards a specific outcome
When the people wanna have their say
When a group of people want to express their opinions or preferences
Won't you tell me how long
Please inform me of the duration of a specific situation
How long
What is the length of time?
Must this go on
Is it necessary for this situation to persist?
Ivory towers and those meaningless words
Referring to people who are out of touch with reality and speak without truly understanding the situation
Recited by people like a well known verse
These people often repeat the same empty or meaningless phrases
We're into the 90's and the pain goes on
Even though we've moved into a new decade, the suffering and difficulty we face continues
Listen to the people with their freedom songs
Instead of listening to empty words, we should pay attention to those singing about freedom and justice for all
On and on and on
Continuously, with no end in sight
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: PETER JOSEPH HOOTON, STEPHEN GEDDES GRIMES, KEITH ROGER MULLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
pixargal007
How did those kids keep a straight face? I'd be busting out laughing!
Tramaine Campbell
Acting
Squritle_Swag512
You can tell Sam was holding it in lol
Lazycat😺
@Squritle_Swag512 and sally haha
Tonystackzz
prob took them alot of takes
Stefan Tomasi
The cow says moo and the duck says quack. Love Dickie’s sarcasm
Etigress
My brother and I went to the movie rental store back in the day and this scene was playing on the tv screens. We laughed our asses off. Good times.
Kyle Thompson
As soon as he started imitating a Jetski i died laughing
Shutterbug _713
Kyle Thompson, but he's right! It would B more fun 4 kids even! I imagine his "update" would B called "Town-a-Long".
Kyle Thompson
The sound of a race car, a fighter jet, and a helicopter would be a huge improvement