After ELO's breakup in the mid 1980s, Lynne moved into production work, showing both the influence of The Beatles that characterized much of ELO's work and an influence from rockabilly-style music. The Beatles' connection was strengthened when Lynne produced George Harrison's Cloud Nine, a successful comeback album for the ex-Beatle released in 1987 featuring the popular single "(Got My Mind) Set On You." In 1989, Lynne co-produced the acclaimed album Full Moon Fever by Tom Petty, which included the hit singles "Free Fallin'," "I Won't Back Down" and "Runnin' Down A Dream," all co-written by Lynne. This album and Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1, also co-produced by Lynne, both received nominations for the Grammy as Best Album Of The Year in 1989.
In 1990 Lynne released his first solo album Armchair Theatre, featuring the singles "Every Little Thing" and "Lift Me Up." The album received some positive critical attention but little commercial success.
In February of 1994, Lynne fulfilled a lifelong dream by working with the three surviving Beatles on Anthology album series, and reunion tracks "Free as a Bird" and "Real Love" (overdubbing John Lennon's demos for the songs). He has also produced records individually for George Harrison, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, and worked extensively on the Roy Orbison album Mystery Girl.
In 2001, Lynne released a new ELO album, Zoom, which--save for original ELO keyboardist Richard Tandy on one track--featured none of the original members of the Electric Light Orchestra, but attempted to "return to the classic ELO sound" [1]. The album received positive reviews but had no hit singles. While a concert of the album was filmed and shown on PBS stations, a planned concert tour was cancelled, although the concert was released on DVD. Also that year, Lynne appeared on a VH-1 Storytellers show filmed in New York, and EMI and Sony released remastered editions of part of ELO's catalog.
Lynne went back to the recording studio as a producer in 2002, co-producing and helping complete George Harrison's posthumously-released album, Brainwashed. He was also heavily involved in the memorial Concert for George, held at London's Royal Albert Hall in November 2002, and subsequently produced the Surround Sound audio mix for the Concert For George DVD released in November 2003. The DVD received a Grammy for Best Long Form Music Video.
Also in 2002, a tribute to Lynne called Lynne Me Your Ears was released [2], featuring two CDs full of artists performing Lynne/ELO songs, including Todd Rundgren, SWAG (featuring members of Wilco, The Mavericks and Cheap Trick), Sixpence None The Richer, Doug Powell, PFR, Jason Falkner, Fleming and John, Jerry Chamberlain of Daniel Amos, Rick Altizer and others.
In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine Tom Petty revealed that fellow Wilbury and Full Moon Fever producer Jeff Lynne will reunite with Petty on his upcoming solo album, due in 2006.
Jeff Lynn co-wrote, with John Farrar, the lyrics and music for the 2007 Broadway musical Xanadu. The show used several ELO songs, including "I'm Alive," "Evil Woman" and "Strange Magic."
In 2012 Lynne's second solo album, a covers album entitled Long Wave, was released on 8 October 2012. A greatest hits collection of re-recorded ELO songs by Lynne titled Mr. Blue Sky: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra was also released under the ELO moniker on the same day.
On September 24, 2015, under the name Jeff Lynne's ELO, "When I Was a Boy", the first single from Alone in the Universe was released on the internet with a music video released not long after. The album was released on November 13, 2015 and was followed by promotional shows including the first ELO shows in the United States in 30 years. A 2016 European tour has been scheduled.
The Long and Winding Road
Jeff Lynne Lyrics
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With your cheap guitar and your big long hair
You gotta realize all your responsibilities
You gotta get out to work and face reality
You gotta get up in the morning take your heavy load
And you gotta keep goin' down the long black road (Long black road)
I couldn't find my way I didn't know what I was doin'
I saw a lot of people coming back the other way
So I kept on goin' when I heard them say
You gotta get up in the morning take your heavy load
And you gotta keep goin' down the long black road (Long black road)
(Long black road)
Long black road
Long black road (Hei!)
Long black road
Long black road
I made a lot of money I was makin' quite a mess
But they all told me money wouldn't bring me happiness
You gotta work like a man in a real man's life
You're gonna have to take all the trouble and strife
You gotta get up in the morning take your heavy load
And you gotta keep goin' down the long black road
You gotta get up in the morning take your heavy load
And you gotta keep goin' down the long black road
You gotta get up in the morning take your heavy load
And you gotta keep goin' down the long black road
Long black road
The lyrics of Jeff Lynne's "Long and Winding Road" talk about the struggles of pursuing a career in music. The opening lines describe a societal pressure to be "responsible" and settle down, rather than pursuing one's dreams. However, the singer of the song temporarily succumbs to "drifting down the road to ruin," unable to find a clear direction. He encounters others who have given up on their own pursuits, but decides to continue down the difficult path towards success, as represented by the "long black road."
The chorus repeats the idea of facing the burdens of life and continuing to move forward, even when it's difficult. The repetition of "Long black road" is particularly significant, it serves as a metaphor for the road of life and all the challenges and obstacles that come with it. The final verse brings up the theme of money and happiness, suggesting that success does not necessarily bring fulfillment and meaning in life, that one has to work like a "real man" and deal with "trouble and strife" throughout their journey.
Overall, the song celebrates persistence and the pursuit of one's passion, but it also acknowledges the hardships and sacrifices that it entails.
Line by Line Meaning
They used to tell me boy you ain't goin' nowhere
People used to doubt my ability to succeed
With your cheap guitar and your big long hair
They would judge me for my looks and lack of wealth
You gotta realize all your responsibilities
I needed to understand my obligations in life
You gotta get out to work and face reality
I had to work hard and accept the truth
So I drifted for a while down the road to ruin
For a long time, I wandered aimlessly towards destruction
I couldn't find my way I didn't know what I was doin'
I was lost and didn't know how to find my path
I saw a lot of people coming back the other way
Many people gave up and went back
So I kept on goin' when I heard them say
I didn't listen to their negative comments and kept moving forward
I made a lot of money I was makin' quite a mess
Eventually, I earned a lot of money, but it didn't bring peace
But they all told me money wouldn't bring me happiness
People warned me that money isn't a solution
You gotta work like a man in a real man's life
I needed to work hard and embrace my responsibilities
You're gonna have to take all the trouble and strife
I must be ready to face all the struggles and challenges
Long black road
Throughout my journey, I faced many dark moments
Long black road (Hei!)
The road to success is rarely easy or straightforward
Long black road
But with persistence and determination, I made it through
Long black road
And now I'm a better person for having taken that journey.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JEFF LYNNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind