How Long Has This Been Going on?
Harry 'Sweets' Edison [feat. Ben Webster] Lyrics
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I was kissed by my sisters, my cousins, and my aunties.
Sad to tell, it was hell, an inferno worse than Dante's.
So my dear I swore,
"Never, never more !"
On my list, I insisted that kissing must be crossed out.
Now, I find I was blind, and oh my! How I lost out!
I could cry salty tears,
Where have I been all these years?
Little wow, tell me now:
How long has this been going on?
There were chills up my spine,
And some thrills I can't define.
Listen, sweet, I repeat:
How long has this been going on?
Oh, I feel that I could melt,
Into Heaven I'm hurled!
I know how Columbus felt,
Finding another world.
Kiss me once, then once more.
What a dunce I was before.
What a break! For Heaven's sake!
How long has this been going on?
Dear, when in your arms I creep,
That divine rendezvous,
Don't wake me, if I'm asleep,
Let me dream that it's true!
Kiss me twice, then once more.
That makes thrice, let's make it four!
What a break! For Heaven's sake!
How long has this been going on?
How long has this, been going on?
In the lyrics to "How Long Has This Been Going On?", Harry 'Sweets' Edison and Ben Webster explore the theme of unexpected love and the realization of missed opportunities. The song begins with a nostalgic reflection on the innocence of childhood, symbolized by the singer wearing "little velvet panties" and being showered with kisses from family members. However, the experience of love later in life is described as an awe-inspiring revelation, contrasting with the previous aversion to kisses. The singer laments the time lost to their previous misunderstanding and expresses a desire to make up for it.
The lyrics convey a journey of personal growth and discovery, as the singer contemplates how long this romantic connection has been present without their awareness. The imagery of chills up the spine and undefined thrills portray the intensity and unquantifiable nature of newfound love. The singer compares this transformative experience to Christopher Columbus discovering a new world, emphasizing the profound impact it has had on their life.
The repetition of "How long has this been going on?" and the longing for more kisses from their beloved indicate a strong desire to prolong and savor the newfound love. The closing lines of the song capture the desire to immerse oneself in the bliss of this newfound connection, even if it is dreamlike.
Overall, the lyrics of "How Long Has This Been Going On?" express the joy, surprise, and eagerness that come with discovering genuine love after a period of misunderstanding and missed opportunities.
Line by Line Meaning
As a tot, when I trotted in little velvet panties,
As a young child, when I happily walked around in my fancy clothes,
I was kissed by my sisters, my cousins, and my aunties.
I received innocent displays of affection from my siblings, relatives, and loved ones.
Sad to tell, it was hell, an inferno worse than Dante's.
Regrettably, those experiences felt overwhelming and chaotic, akin to an agonizing torment.
So my dear I swore,
"Never, never more !"
Therefore, my darling, I made a solemn vow, proclaiming I would never allow it again.
On my list, I insisted that kissing must be crossed out.
I firmly declared that kissing should be eliminated from my experiences, as stated on my agenda.
Now, I find I was blind, and oh my! How I lost out!
But now I realize that I was unaware of the true joy I had been missing out on.
I could cry salty tears,
Where have I been all these years?
Tears of both regret and realization fill my eyes, as I ponder where I have wasted all these years without such happiness.
Little wow, tell me now:
How long has this been going on?
Oh, how astonishing! Please enlighten me: How long has this incredible experience been unfolding?
There were chills up my spine,
And some thrills I can't define.
Intense sensations of excitement and pleasure overwhelmed me, defying description.
Listen, sweet, I repeat:
How long has this been going on?
Listen closely, my darling, I ask once again: How long has this enchanting adventure been occurring?
Oh, I feel that I could melt,
Into Heaven I'm hurled!
Such is the overwhelming sensation that I could literally dissolve, as if transported to a divine realm!
I know how Columbus felt,
Finding another world.
I can empathize with the overwhelming sense of discovery that Columbus must have felt when encountering a whole new world.
Kiss me once, then once more.
What a dunce I was before.
Give me one kiss, and then another. It makes me realize what a fool I was in the past for not appreciating this.
What a break! For Heaven's sake!
How long has this been going on?
What an incredible stroke of luck! For the love of all that is sacred, please let me know how long this extraordinary situation has been taking place.
Dear, when in your arms I creep,
That divine rendezvous,
Darling, when I cautiously find myself in your embrace,
Don't wake me, if I'm asleep,
Let me dream that it's true!
Please, refrain from awakening me if I happen to be in slumber, allowing me to believe that this extraordinary dream is indeed reality!
Kiss me twice, then once more.
That makes thrice, let's make it four!
Bestow upon me two more kisses, adding to the previous one, making it a total of four! Let us indulge in this exquisite pleasure even further!
What a break! For Heaven's sake!
How long has this been going on?
What an incredible stroke of fortune! For the love of all that is holy, please inform me how long this unimaginable delight has been occurring.
How long has this, been going on?
How much time, my love, has this marvelous experience been taking place?
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ira Gershwin, George Gershwin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind