How Long Has This Been Going On?
J.J. Johnson and Joe Pass Lyrics

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As a tot, when I trotted in little velvet panties,
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?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of J.J. Johnson and Joe Pass's song How Long Has This Been Going On? tell a story of someone who, as a child, was made to believe that kissing was a terrible thing because of the unwanted attention received from family members. This individual vows to never kiss again, but now feels regret for not having experienced it sooner. The lyrics also express the individual's desire to embrace the feeling of being in love, as described by the phrase "There were chills up my spine, and some thrills I can't define." The song continues to describe the sensation of feeling loved as being so profound that it inspires the desire to live in that moment forever.

Overall, the song is a mix of bittersweet emotions that tell a heartfelt story about wanting to experience love for the first time. The lyrics are poetic and clever, using vivid imagery to paint a picture of the emotions felt by the individual. The melody is soothing, and the combination of Johnson's trombone and Pass's guitar make for an elegant and harmonious duet.

Line by Line Meaning

As a tot, when I trotted in little velvet panties,
When I was a small child, I would walk around in my little velvet underpants.

I was kissed by my sisters, my cousins, and my aunties.
My female relatives would frequently kiss me.

Sad to tell, it was hell, an inferno worse than Dante's.
Unfortunately, this experience was not one I enjoyed, and it felt like a terrible punishment.

So my dear I swore, "Never, never more !"
As a result, I made a solemn vow never to allow myself to be kissed again.

On my list, I insisted that kissing must be crossed out.
I made sure to include this in writing, so that I could hold myself accountable to this promise.

Now, I find I was blind, and oh my! How I lost out!
But now, as an adult, I realize that I was foolish to think this way, and I missed out on a lot of potentially wonderful experiences.

I could cry salty tears,
This realization makes me feel regretful to the point of tears.

Where have I been all these years?
I wonder why I let myself go so long without experiencing the joy of kissing.

Little wow, tell me now,
I am excited to experience this new sensation and want to know more about it.

How long has this been going on?
I am curious to know how long I've been missing out on this wonderful experience.

There were chills up my spine,
The feeling of being kissed produced a physical response in me, sending shivers down my back.

And some thrills I can't define.
The experience was thrilling and exciting, but I can't quite put my finger on why.

Listen, sweet, I repeat,
I want to emphasize just how important this discovery is to me.

Oh, I feel that I could melt,
The sensation is so intense that I feel like I could literally melt from the pleasure.

Into Heaven I'm hurled!
It's as if I've entered a blissful, heavenly state.

I know how Columbus felt,
I can relate to the sense of discovery and wonder that Columbus must have felt when he discovered the New World.

Finding another world.
For me, this new world is the joy and pleasure of being kissed.

Kiss me once, then once more.
I want to experience the joy of being kissed again and again.

What a dunce I was before.
I feel foolish for having spent so long avoiding this wonderful experience.

What a break! For Heaven's sake!
I am grateful for this discovery and feel like I've lucked out beyond belief.

Dear, when in your arms I creep,
When I am close to you and feel your arms around me,

That divine rendezvous,
It feels like a special, almost spiritual encounter.

Don't wake me, if I'm asleep,
If this is all a dream, please don't wake me up.

Let me dream that it's true!
I want to fully immerse myself in this experience and believe that it is real.

Kiss me twice, then once more.
I want to keep experiencing this wonderful feeling, over and over again.

That makes thrice, let's make it four!
Once is not enough, twice is not enough, three times is not enough - I want to savor this experience as much as possible.

How long has this been going on?
I am still in disbelief that I spent so long avoiding this wonderful experience and want to know how long it's been since I've been missing out.

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Peermusic Publishing
Written by: IRA GERSHWIN, GEORGE GERSHWIN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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