Mark Heard released 13 studio albums in his lifetime (as Mark Heard & Ideola) also 1 album with Infinity Plus Three), and produced and performed with many other artists as well, such as Daniel Amos, Sam Phillips, Pierce Pettis, Phil Keaggy, Vigilantes of Love, Peter Buck of R.E.M., John Austin, The Choir, Randy Stonehill and Michael Been of The Call. Heard produced part of Olivia Newton John's The Rumour, which also included a cover of Heard's "Big and Strong".
On July 4, 1992, Heard suffered a heart attack on stage while performing with Pierce Pettis and Kate Miner, at the Cornerstone Festival, near Chicago, Illinois. Heard finished his set and went to the hospital immediately afterwards. Two weeks after being released from the hospital, Heard had a cardiac arrest and died in August of 1992. Sadly, this happened at a time when Heard's musical career never looked brighter. Not only had he just released three albums (Dry Bones Dance in 1990, Second Hand in 1991, and Satellite Sky in 1992) that many hailed as his best work to date, but he had also just been included on a sampler from Windham Hill's High Street label.
Heard's early work was often marked by strong, poetic lyrics; but musically he lingered in a generic folk/folk-rock style. But Heard continued to experiment musically; his most extreme was perhaps the elaborately-produced electronic rock on the album Tribal Opera, which he released under the name iDEoLA. With Dry Bones Dance, however, Heard's music blossomed into an intense folk-rock fusion, marked by driving rhythms, virtuosic instrumentals, passionate vocals, and interwoven elements borrowed from styles such as Appalachian folk, zydeco, bluegrass, and country (though Heard's music is none of those). Second Hand returned to a more acoustic guitar-based folk sound, but retained the energy and creativity discovered through Dry Bones Dance. His final official album, Satellite Sky, was again more like the latter.
Mark Heard's lyrics are deeply grounded in a Christian view of the world, though explicitly so only half the time. He was often critical and had an eye for emotional pain and spiritual desolation, yet he remarkably avoided cynicism. When his lyrics turned to expressing hope or joy, they were powerful. As a poetic lyricist, Heard cultivated verbal sound (e.g. with internal rhyme), strong images and elaborate personae, while avoiding the cheap punch-line metaphors popular in much contemporary folk music. Some of his images, most notably "bones," can be found repeated and richly varied in their meaning across years of songwriting.
In 1994, many artists came together to record a tribute album called Strong Hand of Love. Artists lending their talents to the project included Victoria Williams, Chagall Guevara, Buddy Miller, Julie Miller, Daniel Amos, The Choir, Rich Mullins, Bruce Cockburn, and the Vigilantes of Love. The project was later reissued as a 2 CD set with additional tracks and retitled Orphans of God.
Long Way Down
Mark Heard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wouldn’t know, I have no way of living in the past,
Where once there was a garden the streets have overflowed,
From the Golden Gates to the East Block states, you can hear creation groan,
If there is a shining beacon out across the amber waves, it lies hidden on the teeming shores beneath the burned-out Chevrolets,
And the eyes that scattered high-rise hope across the fruited plain see TVs glowing in the projects through the greasy windowpane.
Baby, it’s a long…baby, it’s a long way down,
Baby, it’s a long…baby, it’s a long way down,
Baby, it’s a long…baby, it’s a big world after all.
Purple mountains’ majesty has ratings that are poor,
History bows to coverage, moderation bows to more,
Far side of the ocean is the far side of the tracks,
All God’s children learn to build and learn to watch their backs,
There are felons out in the prison yard imagining their release,
And the free thank God for the atom bomb, the keeper of the peace,
Another day, another chance to curse away the doubt,
Another night, another thousand points of light go out.
Baby, it’s a long…baby, it’s a long way down,
Baby, it’s a long…baby, it’s a long way to fall,
Baby, it’s a long…baby, it’s a long way down,
Baby, it’s a long…baby, it’s a big world after all.
Hypnotised and shuttled in the limousine of hate,
Watching the scenery shatter in the brittle jaws of fate,
Well, baby, I’m just another fare; I don’t make the rules,
I’d break them if I thought it would do you some good.
Well, the diggers and the bankers, and the architects and fools got to work,
You can’t stop them with bitter tears and golden rules,
It’s a race to stay alive, baby, it’s lawyers, tax, and steel,
‘Til the life that you are living is the thing you never feel,
Babe, they say that this world is better than the last,
I wouldn’t know, I have no way of living in the past,
Where once there was a garden, oh, the streets have overflowed,
From the Golden Gate to the East Block state, you can hear creation groan.
Baby, it’s a long…baby, it’s a long way down,
Baby, it’s a long…baby, it’s a long way to fall,
Baby, it’s a long…baby, it’s a long way down,
Baby, it’s a long…baby, it’s a big world after all,
Baby, it’s a long…baby, it’s a long way down,
Baby, it’s a long…baby, it’s a long way to fall,
Baby, it’s a long…baby, it’s a long way down,
Baby, it’s a long…baby, it’s a big world after all.
Mark Heard's "Long Way Down" is a hauntingly thought-provoking song written in 1992. The lyrics lament the current state of the world and suggest that things are worse than they have ever been before. The opening lines, "Babe, they say that this world is better than the last, I wouldn’t know, I have no way of living in the past" indicate a world that is on a downward trajectory and the singer is helpless to stop it.
The song discusses how the world has changed, and not for the better. Areas once lush with vegetation are now overflowing with concrete and asphalt. The streets are overcrowded, and there are too many people vying for too few resources. The rich get richer, and the poor get poorer. The lyrics also touch on the prison system and how inmates dream of release, while those outside of prison dream of peace. The contradictions of this world are also highlighted, with some thanking God for the atom bomb, the keeper of the peace, while others continue to suffer.
"Long Way Down" is a powerful commentary on the state of the world and the human condition. It's a warning that things may continue to deteriorate unless action is taken. The song's powerful lyrics and somber tone are likely to linger long after the music has stopped.
Line by Line Meaning
Babe, they say that this world is better than the last,
I have no way of knowing if the world has truly improved since the past.
I wouldn’t know, I have no way of living in the past,
As a contemporary human, I cannot perceive the living conditions of the past.
Where once there was a garden the streets have overflowed,
The once beautiful gardens have been overtaken by the streets and urbanization.
From the Golden Gates to the East Block states, you can hear creation groan,
The world is suffering and its natural resources are showing signs of depletion and degradation.
If there is a shining beacon out across the amber waves, it lies hidden on the teeming shores beneath the burned-out Chevrolets,
The hope of a better future is buried within the deteriorating society and culture.
And the eyes that scattered high-rise hope across the fruited plain see TVs glowing in the projects through the greasy windowpane.
The people who once dreamed of a better society are now witnessing the poverty and inequality that still exists.
Purple mountains’ majesty has ratings that are poor,
Even the beautiful natural wonders of the world are not immune to commercialization and exploitation.
History bows to coverage, moderation bows to more,
The media and consumerism are rewriting history and values to fit their own interests.
Far side of the ocean is the far side of the tracks,
People who live further away from developed areas and are less privileged face greater challenges and inequalities.
All God’s children learn to build and learn to watch their backs,
Everyone must learn how to survive and be cautious in a world that is often hostile and unforgiving.
There are felons out in the prison yard imagining their release,
Even people who have committed crimes are hoping for a better future and a chance to turn their lives around.
And the free thank God for the atom bomb, the keeper of the peace,
Even though nuclear weapons are a dangerous and destructive force, some people see them as necessary for maintaining global peace and order.
Another day, another chance to curse away the doubt,
Every day brings new doubts and uncertainties that make life challenging and difficult.
Another night, another thousand points of light go out.
As time goes on, more and more people lose their hope and optimism, making the world a darker place.
Hypnotised and shuttled in the limousine of hate,
People are often consumed by hate and prejudice, unable to see the world beyond their own narrow perspectives.
Watching the scenery shatter in the brittle jaws of fate,
People are powerless witnesses to the destruction and decay of the world around them.
Well, baby, I’m just another fare; I don’t make the rules,
The singer is powerless to change the world or its problems, and is simply an observer.
I’d break them if I thought it would do you some good.
If the singer believed that disregarding the rules would make a positive difference, they would do so.
The diggers and the bankers, and the architects and fools got to work,
People of all professions and intelligence levels are working hard to build a world that still falls short of its potential.
You can’t stop them with bitter tears and golden rules,
The problems of the world can't be solved by either emotional outbursts or strict regulations.
It’s a race to stay alive, baby, it’s lawyers, tax, and steel,
Survival in this world often requires a combination of intellect, financial savvy, and brute force.
‘Til the life that you are living is the thing you never feel,
Even when people have achieved success and comfort, they may not be able to enjoy it due to the many struggles and conflicts in the world.
Baby, it’s a long…baby, it’s a long way down,
The world is a difficult and challenging place, and it's easy to feel overwhelmed.
Baby, it’s a long…baby, it’s a long way to fall,
If you're not careful, the challenges and difficulties of the world can lead to a difficult and perilous journey.
Baby, it’s a long…baby, it’s a big world after all,
Despite the daunting challenges, the world is vast and full of opportunities for growth and change.
Contributed by Arianna L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.