From a first single in 1979, the group successfully combined a pop rock and power pop (and sometimes, a blues rock) influenced backing with harmony side-vocals and Lewis' strident voice, and the band had numerous hit songs during the 1980s and early 1990s. These include "The Power of Love" and "Back in Time" (both of which were featured in the film "Back to the Future"), "I Want a New Drug", "Doin' It All (For My Baby)", "Do You Believe in Love?" "Hip to Be Square", "Stuck With You", and "Jacob's Ladder". Huey Lewis shared three Grammy awards, an American Music Award, and a People's Choice Award along with several artists for his role singing the 1985 charity song "We Are the World" as well.
=Albums=
Huey Lewis & the News (1980)
Picture This (1982) [#13 U.S. Gold]
Sports (1983) [#1 U.S. 7x Platinum]
Back to the Future Soundtrack (1985) [Gold]
Fore! (1986) [#1 U.S. 3x Platinum]
Small World (1988) [#11 U.S. Platinum]
Hard at Play (1991) [#27 U.S. Gold]
The Heart of Rock & Roll - The Best of Huey Lewis and The News (1992)
Four Chords & Several Years Ago (1994) [#55 U.S.]
Time Flies: The Best of Huey Lewis and the News (1996) [#185 U.S.]
Plan B (2001) [#165 U.S.]
Live at 25 (2005)
Greatest Hits & Videos (2006) [#70 U.S.]
www.hueylewisandthenews.com
We're Not Here for a Long Time
Huey Lewis & The News Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They got rhythm, a little blues, and a whole lot of soul
I don't care what you've got to say
You're comin' with me anyway
We're not here for a long time
We're here for a good time
I know it's hard makin' a living every day
But now it's time to play
Tell that wolf waitin' at your door
He'll just have to wait some more
We're not here for a long time
We're here for a good time
Some say the world is ending
It might just come to pass
Ain't no use in pretending
Tonight could be the last
Tell the mailman to hold the mail
Get ready to wag your tail
We're not here for a long time
We're here for a good time
Some say the world is ending
Who knows if it's true?
Ain't no use in pretending
There's not much we can do
Leave a message for those who call
We're out havin' us a ball
We're not here for a long time
We're here for a good time
The song "We're Not Here for a Long Time" by Huey Lewis & The News is an ode to living in the moment and enjoying life. The lyrics describe a party happening on the corner and encourage the listener to come along and enjoy themselves, despite any responsibilities or worries they may have. The chorus, "We're not here for a long time, we're here for a good time," reinforces the idea that life is short and should be lived to the fullest, rather than being bogged down by stress or anxiety.
The second verse acknowledges the struggle of daily life and the pressures of work, but insists that it's time to set those aside and "play." The line "tell that wolf waiting at your door, he'll just have to wait some more" is a reference to the phrase "wolf at the door," which means being in danger of financial ruin. The song suggests that it's important to take a break from worrying about money and other stressors and enjoy life while you can.
The bridge of the song acknowledges the possibility of the world ending or some other kind of disaster happening, but encourages the listener not to pretend that they have control over it. Instead, they should focus on enjoying the present moment and making the most of their time.
Overall, "We're Not Here for a Long Time" is a life-affirming anthem that encourages listeners to let go of their worries and enjoy themselves while they still can.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a party down on the corner, do you want to go?
There's a social gathering happening nearby, would you like to attend?
They got rhythm, a little blues, and a whole lot of soul
The musical entertainment there features lively beats, bluesy melodies and an abundance of soulful expression.
I don't care what you've got to say
I'm not concerned about your objections or opinions.
You're comin' with me anyway
Regardless, you'll be accompanying me.
We're not here for a long time
We're not here on earth for an extended period.
We're here for a good time
However, while we're here, we want to enjoy ourselves and have a good time.
I know it's hard makin' a living every day
I understand it's a challenge to earn a livelihood every day.
And I know how hard you've been workin'
I understand how much you've been toiling.
But now it's time to play
But now it's time to take a break and enjoy ourselves.
Tell that wolf waitin' at your door
Tell the trouble or problems you're dealing with to wait for a little longer.
He'll just have to wait some more
He simply needs to have more patience.
Some say the world is ending
Some people believe that the world is coming to an end.
It might just come to pass
It could be a possibility.
Ain't no use in pretending
There's no point in pretending otherwise.
Tonight could be the last
This evening could be the final one.
Tell the mailman to hold the mail
Request for the postal delivery person to hold off delivery.
Get ready to wag your tail
Prepare to feel happy and excited.
Some say the world is ending
Some individuals believe that the world is concluding.
Who knows if it's true?
Though, there's no guarantee that it's accurate.
Ain't no use in pretending
It's not worthwhile to try and act as if it's not real.
There's not much we can do
We don't have much control over it.
Leave a message for those who call
Leave a message for those trying to contact us.
We're out havin' us a ball
We're presently having a great time.
We're not here for a long time
We won't be here very long.
We're here for a good time
So, we're focused on having the best, most enjoyable experience while we're here.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN VICTOR COLLA, CHRISTOPHER JOHN HAYES, HUEY LEWIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind