The end of 2008 saw Grieves enlisting the help of friend and collaborator Budo to co-produce Together/Apart bringing his signature swiss-army knife, multi-instrumental backdrop to Grieves' hauntingly poignant narrative. The album began taking shape in New York as the two built off the success 88 Keys and Counting had generated and paired it with the intensity they developed from their live performances. The recording process began to shadow the theme of the album as it saw tracks recorded in Colorado and Washington in addition to New York, infusing it with a mixture of regional influences while still maintaining a cohesive sound. As the album neared completion the title took on a double meaning for Grieves as he explored new subject matter in the absence of trust, refuge in addiction, acceptance and honesty in self-reflection, and trying to find his place in the world without forgetting his roots.
Long One
Grieves Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Boss callin' me tellin me I'm a clown, see
I couldn't hold a conversation let alone a job
So I should come and get my shit before they throw it out
Typical, I guess the clouds came back for me
Couldn't run from the spell that's been cast on me
Last time I got surrounded by gloom I was Lieutenant Dan drunk, screamin' at the moon sayin'
Fuck it, let the lines be crossed
I don't need a mindless job I'm fine without it
You can keep your nine to five and your high-rise trousers
I got the fifth of bourbon on deck
A contact list, full of homies in debt
So when life deals you nothin' but jokers and holds tens
We get drunk off that severance check, man
It's gonna be a long one
It's gonna be a lone one, ay, It's gonna be a long one, oh
Drinkin' til the sun comes up, and I said
It's gonna be a lone one, ay, It's gonna be a long one
(So grab a couple of brews and come on now)
Fell down, got up
Found love, got dumped
Cuz she don't need an unemployed punk runnin' round livin' life like the pile of blues records in his trunk
It's a damn shame, but I don't think I'm gonna miss her
She wants the dog, the house, to call me mister
Ironically now she calls me an asshole
Call me at her job from the craft store
Told me that I'm dealin' with a disease
I don't wanna succeed
Anybody that's ever tried to assist me gets it
I've become a product of the slump
Pig-headed stubborn ass loser of the month, yeah
Lost cause on a castle of his junk
Tryin' to sweep a mountain of fuck ups under the rug
Man I get it, all of this has pushed me to the limit
So now I'm gonna drink until I'm spinnin'
It's gonna be a long one
I'm gonna be up all night
It's gonna be a long one, yeah (x2)
I'm gonna be up all night
It's gonna be a long yeah, a long one yeah, a long long long long one
It's gonna be a long one, ay, It's gonna be a long one, oh
Drinkin' til the sun comes up, and I said
It's gonna be a lone one, ay, It's gonna be a long one
(So grab a couple of brews and come on now)
In "Long One" by Grieves, the lyrics discuss a man who wakes up feeling broken down and struggling to hold a job or have a conversation. He receives a call from his boss telling him he should come and get his things before they throw them out. The man reflects on his life and how he is dealing with the spell that has been cast on him. When he is surrounded by gloom, he turns to alcohol to cope with his problems. The man admits that he is a lost cause and has become a product of his slump.
Despite his struggles, the man doesn't want a mindless job and is fine without it. He has a fifth of bourbon on deck and a contact list full of friends who are also struggling. The man doesn't want to succeed, and anyone who tries to help him understands why he has become a product of the slump. He has lost everything and has no motivation to change anything.
The chorus of the song repeats, "It's gonna be a long one," emphasizing the man's belief that his struggles are far from over. He plans to drink until he can't anymore, signaling that his coping mechanism is the only thing that works for him.
Overall, "Long One" is a song about a man who has given up on himself and his life. The use of alcohol as a coping mechanism demonstrates his desire to escape reality, but ultimately, it only prolongs his problems.
Line by Line Meaning
Woke up, broke down
I woke up feeling terrible and hopeless
Boss callin' me tellin me I'm a clown, see
My boss is criticizing and mocking me
I couldn't hold a conversation let alone a job
I'm struggling with basic human interaction and unable to keep a job
So I should come and get my shit before they throw it out
I need to gather my belongings before I lose them
Typical, I guess the clouds came back for me
It's no surprise that my depression and bad luck have returned
Couldn't run from the spell that's been cast on me
I feel trapped and unable to escape my negative fate
Last time I got surrounded by gloom I was Lieutenant Dan drunk, screamin' at the moon sayin'
The last time I was this low was when I was extremely drunk and shouting at the sky like a character from a movie
Fuck it, let the lines be crossed
I don't care about breaking the rules or taking risks anymore
Let's climb up on the roof and toss knives at God
I'm so angry and disillusioned that I want to challenge a higher power
I don't need a mindless job I'm fine without it
I don't want to be stuck in a boring, meaningless job
You can keep your nine to five and your high-rise trousers
I don't care about conforming to society's expectations of success
I got the fifth of bourbon on deck
I have a bottle of bourbon ready to drink
A contact list, full of homies in debt
I have a list of friends who are also financially struggling
So when life deals you nothin' but jokers and holds tens
When life keeps giving you bad luck and setbacks
We get drunk off that severance check, man
We celebrate getting laid off from our jobs with alcohol
It's gonna be a long one
Tonight is going to be a long, difficult night
Fell down, got up
I've been knocked down and have gotten back up from failure
Found love, got dumped
I briefly found someone to love but then they left me
Cuz she don't need an unemployed punk runnin' round livin' life like the pile of blues records in his trunk
My ex-girlfriend wants someone with more stability and a better life
It's a damn shame, but I don't think I'm gonna miss her
I'm sad about losing her but ultimately think it's for the best
She wants the dog, the house, to call me mister
My ex wants all the traditional markers of a successful life and to distance herself from me
Ironically now she calls me an asshole
She now insults and belittles me even though I did nothing to her
Call me at her job from the craft store
She's calling me from her low-paying job at a craft store
Told me that I'm dealin' with a disease
She thinks my depression and problems are a sickness I need to overcome
I don't wanna succeed, anybody that's ever tried to assist me gets it
I don't want to try and succeed because I feel like everyone who has tried to help me has failed
I've become a product of the slump
My depression and failures have made me who I am
Pig-headed stubborn ass loser of the month, yeah
I'm being called stubborn and a loser
Lost cause on a castle of his junk
I have a big pile of useless things and am considered a lost cause
Tryin' to sweep a mountain of fuck ups under the rug
I'm trying to cover up my mistakes and problems
Man I get it, all of this has pushed me to the limit
I understand that everything I'm going through is overwhelming
So now I'm gonna drink until I'm spinnin'
I'm going to drink until I'm completely dizzy and out of it
It's gonna be a long one
Tonight is going to be a long night
I'm gonna be up all night
I won't be able to sleep tonight
It's gonna be a long yeah, a long one yeah, a long long long long one
I'm emphasizing that tonight is going to be an extremely long and difficult night
So grab a couple of brews and come on now
So join me in drinking some beer
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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