In 2000, Ferrick founded her own record label, Right On Records. The first studio album released on her own label was Valentine Heartache.
Her 2011 album was entitled "Still Right Here".
Website: www.melissaferrick.com
It's Been A Long Time
Melissa Ferrick Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Since I opened the window
Next to my bed
Since I spent the whole day
Just feelin' the sun shift on my head
Since I've dug my feet in
Into the edge of this continent
It's been a long, long time
Home is not just where I am anymore
I know how to get there
And it's where I wanna be
It's where the river kisses the ocean
Where I feel small
I feel blessed
And I feel like me
It's been a long, long time
And I can't remember
When all this runnin' started
But it took about eight years
For something in me to slip
I gave all I could give
But then I just kept givin'
'Til I woke up one day to find
My body had up and left
My body, well she up and left
Been a long, long time
It's been a long time
Home is not just where I am anymore
I know how to get there
It's where I wanna be
It's where the river kisses the ocean
Where I feel small
I feel blessed
And I feel like me
Been a long, long time
It's been a long time
A long, long time
'Cause I ain't no good to you sober
If I just medicate my life
So I'm askin' for some help here
Would you help me get level?
To help me to get right
Been a long time
It's been a long, long time
It's been a long time
In this song, Melissa Ferrick sings about the passing of time and memories of the past. She describes how it's been a long time since she opened the window next to her bed or felt the sun shift on her head throughout the day. It's been a long time since she's felt connected to the earth and dug her feet into the edge of the continent. Ferrick contrasts this idea with the concept of home, which she suggests is not a physical place, but rather where she feels small, blessed, and like herself. She continues to reflect on how long it's been since she last felt like herself and how she can't remember when she started running. She recognizes that she has given all she could give but still can't get to a place where she feels like herself. Ferrick ends the song with a plea for help to get level and right again.
Throughout the song, Ferrick's use of image and detail creates vivid pictures of time passing, and memories that have faded. The contrast between the passing of time and the idea of home highlights the emotional importance of feeling grounded and secure in a place. The final plea for help acknowledges the difficulty of carrying on and serving others when we haven't taken care of ourselves.
Line by Line Meaning
It's been a long time
I have been away from the things I love for too long.
Since I opened the window
I have not had fresh air in my room for a long time.
Next to my bed
I have not had the opportunity to lay in my bed and relax in a long time.
Since I spent the whole day
It has been an extended amount of time since I spent an entire day doing something I love.
Just feelin' the sun shift on my head
I miss something as simple as feeling the sun shine down on me throughout the day.
Since I've dug my feet in
It's been a long time since I've been grounded and connected to the earth beneath my feet.
Into the edge of this continent
I have not experienced the beautiful landscape of this continent in a long time.
Home is not just where I am anymore
My sense of home has evolved over time and is not solely based on my physical location.
I know how to get there
I have discovered the path towards feeling at home within myself.
And it's where I wanna be
My true desires align with feeling at home within myself.
It's where the river kisses the ocean
Home for me is where two beautiful aspects of nature come together.
Where I feel small
When I'm home, I am reminded of my place in the world and feel humbled.
I feel blessed
Feeling at home brings me great joy and gratitude.
And I feel like me
Only when I am at home do I feel fully authentic and true to myself.
And I can't remember
The last time I felt truly at home is a distant memory.
When all this runnin' started
I have been running from my true self and sense of home for quite some time.
But it took about eight years
It has been a lengthy journey to get to where I am now.
For something in me to slip
I experienced a decline in my mental health and sense of self.
I gave all I could give
I have exhausted my energy and resources in my quest for a sense of home.
But then I just kept givin'
Despite feeling depleted, I continued to pour myself into things that did not bring me true fulfillment.
Til I woke up one day to find
One day, I realized that I had lost myself completely.
My body had up and left
I was no longer connected to my physical and mental self.
Been a long, long time
It has been quite some time since I have felt at home within myself.
Cause I ain't no good to you sober
I know that I cannot be of service to others if I do not take care of myself first.
If I just medicate my life
I cannot continue to numb my sense of self and rely on unhealthy coping mechanisms.
So I'm askin' for some help here
I am reaching out for assistance in finding my way home.
Would you help me get level?
Can you offer me support and guidance as I work towards balancing my life?
To help me to get right
I am seeking help to become the best version of myself.
Contributed by Mackenzie W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.