Since her graduation from Boston’s renowned Berklee College of Music, Longley has assembled quite an impressive resume. While best known for her stop-you-in-your-tracks voice, Longley has quickly built a reputation as an accomplished songwriter, crafting intimately personal portraits through her music. Longley's ever-expanding fan base is not the only group to acknowledge her talent. In 2010 alone, Longley took home top prizes at some of the most prestigious songwriting competitions in the country; the BMI John Lennon Songwriting Scholarship Competition, the International Acoustic Music Awards and the Chris Austn Songwriting Contest.
While she has previously opened shows for established artists such as Mindy Smith, Nanci Griffith, Paula Cole, Livingston Taylor, Amos Lee, Shawn Colvin, Colin Hay and America, it is becoming clear that Longley has come into her own as a performer. The Washington Post declared that she is “destined to a bigger audience,” Dig Boston called her “a rising acoustic sensation” and even John Mayer is a fan, calling her music “gorgeous, just gorgeous.” Executives at Sirius XM caught wind of her cover of Van Morrison’s hit “Moondance” and added it into regular rotation, along with her award-winning original song, “When You’ve Got Trouble.”
Swing
Liz Longley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Keeping you guessing, hangin on
Don't take it personal babe, personally
This is less about you and this is more about me
Not makin promises I could never keep, I could never keep
I just wanna swing, swing like a pendulum, time's always movin on
Swing, further than I've ever been, only to come back
You know that I'll come back around every time
I just wanna swing, swing
It's better not knowing, if I'm comin or goin
But here in the moment, 'til I'm gone
Don't take it personal babe, personally
This is less about you and this is more about me
Not makin promises I could never keep, I could never keep
I just wanna swing, swing like a pendulum, time's always movin on
Swing, further than I've ever been, only to come back
Let me go, let me fly
You know that I'll come back around every time
I just wanna swing, swing
Can't settle me down, or make me stand still
Can't hold me back, no nobody ever will
Can't settle me down, or make me stand still
Can't hold me back, no nobody ever will
Can't settle me down, or make me stand still
I just wanna swing, swing like a pendulum, time's always movin on
Swing, further than I've ever been, only to come back
Let me go, let me fly
You know that I'll come back around every time
I just wanna swing, swing
Can't settle me down, or make me stand still
Can't hold me back, nobody ever will
Can't settle me down, or make me stand still
Ooh ohh
Can't settle me down, or make me stand still
Can't hold me back, nobody ever will
I just wanna swing
Liz Longley's song "Swing" is about the feeling of wanting to be free and not tied down by anything or anyone, letting the pendulum of time swing back and forth, being in the moment until it's time to move on. The lyrics suggest that it's not about the person she's with, but more about herself and her desire for freedom. She's not making promises she can't keep and wants to make that clear to her partner.
The chorus is where she expresses her desire to swing, to feel the freedom and the momentum of the pendulum. She wants to go further than she's ever been and then come back, reassuring her partner that she will always return. The bridge repeats the idea that she can't be settled down or held back, that nobody ever will.
One could interpret this song as a reflection of the restlessness that comes with youth or perhaps with the need to experience different things in life. The desire to be free and not tied down to anything can be a powerful driving force for people. The song seems to celebrate this feeling, as well as the idea that we always end up back where we started, that life is a cycle that swings us back and forth.
Line by Line Meaning
There's something so freeing, not staying or leaving
Being in a state of uncertainty is liberating.
Keeping you guessing, hangin on
Leaving someone guessing about one's next move.
Don't take it personal babe, personally
A behavior is not directed towards the person it may affect.
This is less about you and this is more about me
A decision is not a reflection of others, but rather an individual's own desires.
Not makin promises I could never keep, I could never keep
Not leading someone on with promises that cannot be fulfilled.
I just wanna swing, swing like a pendulum, time's always movin on
Wanting to take risks and experience personal growth.
Swing, further than I've ever been, only to come back
Exploring possibilities while knowing that one's roots will always draw them back.
Let me go, let me fly
Allowing oneself to take chances and make choices.
You know that I'll come back around every time
Maintaining a connection to one's roots and past.
It's better not knowing, if I'm comin or goin
Finding comfort in uncertainty.
But here in the moment, 'til I'm gone
Living in the present and accepting transient situations.
Can't settle me down, or make me stand still
Choosing a life of adventure and mobility.
Can't hold me back, no nobody ever will
Refusing to let others impose their expectations and limitations.
Ooh ohh
An expression of emotion and personal desire.
Contributed by Landon A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Discover The Music
I love her voice!
Umberto Federico
Absolutely love it!! The video is amazing and the song beautiful! Thanks for sharing this :-D
Tarun Mehta
Beautiful song. lovely voice.😍
R & M Gaming
Just found you girl, you sound amazing! <3
Steffen Andersen
Love you Liz ❤️ Your voice heals my soul
Gary Antigiovanni
Incredible video Liz. Keep them coming!
EL10
Liz you're amazing! great voice and performance!! 😍
EL10
I love this song ❤️
Nikki Tomeo
How is your music always so beautiful? How do you do it?!
Emma M
I just wanna...hit replay!