Hurricane #1 was a UK band on the legendary Creation Records label, lead by… Read Full Bio ↴Hurricane #1 was a UK band on the legendary Creation Records label, lead by Andy Bell (Ride, Oasis, Beady Eye.) Other members included lead vocalist/guitarist Alex Lowe, bassist Will Pepper, and drummer Gareth Farmer.

They released two albums:

•Hurricane #1 (1997)
•Only The Strongest Will Survive (1999)

The band's greatest hit was "Step Into My World," which also made it onto a 1998 Volkswagen Beetle ad screened around the world.

Long Way Down
Hurricane #1 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

It gradually happened so fast you know
And it suddenly happened so slow
Now I'm washed up and waiting for the tide
To carry me home and let me go

Such a long way home, such a long way home
Such a long way home, such a long way home
You want to leave so fast, how is it gonna last?

You know it's a long way down
Up in the stratosphere, I'm all alone in here
You know it's a long way down
You know it's a long way down

???? the world keep on sliding you know
When you're burned out and run aground
There must be somebody out there
Who can reach you when you're this far down

Such a long way down, such a long way down
Such a long way down, such a long way down
You want to leave so fast, how is it gonna last?
You know it's a long way down
Up in the stratosphere, I'm all alone in here
You know it's a long way down
You know it's a long way down

(Up in the stratosphere) Such a long way down
(I'm all alone in here) Such a long way down
(Up in the stratosphere) Such a long way down
(I'm all alone in here) Such a long way down
(Up in the stratosphere) Such a long way down
(I'm all alone in here) Such a long way down
(Up in the stratosphere) Such a long way down
(I'm all alone in here) Such a long way down
(Up in the stratosphere) Such a long way down
(I'm all alone in here) Such a long way down
(Up in the stratosphere) Such a long way down
(I'm all alone in here) Such a long way down
(Up in the stratosphere) Such a long way down
(I'm all alone in here) Such a long way down

(Up in the stratosphere) Such a long way down
(I'm all alone in here) Such a long way down

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Hurricane #1’s song Long Way Down convey a sense of loneliness and despair as the singer finds himself on a downward spiral. The song begins by describing how his descent happened gradually but suddenly, leaving him stranded and waiting for something to carry him home. He repeats the phrase “such a long way home” multiple times, emphasizing how far he has strayed from where he wants to be. The chorus questions the sustainability of leaving so quickly and how it will last for the singer, as he’s all alone in the stratosphere. The second verse touches upon how the world keeps sliding, and those in such an isolated position need someone to reach out to them.

This song’s lyrics beautifully capture the feelings of someone who is lost and seeking solace. The singer is lost and is desperately awaiting something to pull him out of his state of misery. The song uses the metaphor of being up in the stratosphere to represent his emotional distance and isolation from those around him.

Line by Line Meaning

It gradually happened so fast you know
The situation changed slowly but all of a sudden it became a reality.

And it suddenly happened so slow
Even though it happened abruptly, it felt like time froze as the situation unfolded.

Now I'm washed up and waiting for the tide
I'm stranded and helpless, waiting for a force larger than me to take me home.

To carry me home and let me go
To bring me back to where I belong and release me from this burden.

You want to leave so fast, how is it gonna last?
You're trying to escape the situation but that won't solve anything in the long term.

Up in the stratosphere, I'm all alone in here
I feel isolated and disconnected from everything and everyone around me.

When you're burned out and run aground
When you're exhausted and stuck in a difficult situation.

There must be somebody out there
There has to be someone who can help or understand what I'm going through.

Who can reach you when you're this far down
Who can connect with me and lift me out of this low point in my life.

Such a long way down
This is a deep and difficult situation to be in.

Contributed by Josiah J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.