Foreigner is a British-American rock band, originally formed in 1976 by the… Read Full Bio ↴Foreigner is a British-American rock band, originally formed in 1976 by the veteran English musician Mick Jones and fellow Briton and ex-King Crimson member Ian McDonald along with American vocalist Lou Gramm.

The current incarnation of the band includes Jones, lead vocalist Kelly Hansen, bass guitarist Jeff Pilson and multi-instrumentalist Tom Gimbel.

With ten multi-platinum albums and sixteen Top 30 hits, Foreigner is universally hailed as one of the most popular rock acts in the world with a formidable musical arsenal that continues to propel sold-out tours and album sales, now exceeding 75 million. Responsible for some of rock and roll’s most enduring anthems including Juke Box Hero, Feels Like The First Time, Urgent, Head Games, Say You Will, Cold as Ice, Hot Blooded, and the worldwide #1 hit, I Want To Know What Love Is, Foreigner continues to rock the charts more than thirty years into the game.

Long Long Way From Home
Foreigner Lyrics

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It was a Monday
A day like any other day
I left a small town
For the apple in decay
It was my destiny
It's what we needed to do
They were telling me
I'm telling you

I was inside looking outside
The millions of faces
But still I'm alone
Waiting, hours of waiting
Paying a penance
I was longing for home
I'm looking out for the two of us
I hope we'll be here
When they're through with us

I was inside looking outside
Oh the millions of faces
But still I'm alone
Waiting, hours of waiting
I could feel the tension
I was longing for home
I'm looking out for the two of us
And I hope we'll be here
When they're through with us
I'm a long way from home

Monday, sad, sad Monday
She's waiting for me
But I'm a long long way from home
Sad, sad Monday
She's waiting for me
But I'm a long long way from home
Sad, sad Monday

Ah she's waiting for me
But I'm a long, long way from home

Overall Meaning

The song "Long, Long Way From Home" by Foreigner is about feeling isolated and longing for home while being in a new place or situation. The lyrics describe the singer leaving their small town for a bigger and more decayed city. Despite being surrounded by millions of people, the singer still feels alone and is waiting for someone else to be there with them. The tension and the feeling of being lost in a new place are palpable throughout the song.

The repetition of "I'm looking out for the two of us, and I hope we'll be here when they're through with us" suggests that the singer is not alone and is waiting for someone else's company. The reference to paying a penance suggests that there might be consequences for their actions, and they are waiting for that to pass. The Monday reference signifies the start of a new week, which can be daunting for some, particularly when in a new and unfamiliar environment.

The chorus of "Sad, sad Monday, she's waiting for me, but I'm a long, long way from home" is particularly poignant, emphasizing the sense of loneliness that the singer feels, even when they know someone is waiting for them back home. Overall, the song is about the human experience of feeling lost and longing for the comfort of home while being in a situation that feels alien and uncomfortable.

Line by Line Meaning

It was a Monday
The day was just like any other day; it was a Monday.

A day like any other day
The day was nothing special or out of the ordinary.

I left a small town
I departed from a small town.

For the apple in decay
I left the small town to pursue a future in a decaying place.

It was my destiny
It was fate that I left the small town to pursue a better life.

It's what we needed to do
Leaving the small town was necessary for me and possibly others.

They were telling me
Others were telling me to leave the small town.

I'm telling you
I am now relaying their words to you.

I was inside looking outside
I was confined to a small space, peering out into the world.

The millions of faces
There were countless people around, yet I felt alone.

But still I'm alone
Despite the many people around, I felt lonely.