As Long as I Have You
Mr. Lee Grant Lyrics
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It's wearing me down dear, just thinking of you,
how it's been so long since I held you close,
how things could go wrong when I need you most.
My devotion is an ocean of uneasiness, distraction, worry, grief and
stress.
For love is sadness.
Love is thinking if I make it through this hell on earth,
it might be worth it.
Who needs happiness?
I'd rather have you.
Roaming these hallways with dreams unfulfilled--
why do they always seem so uphill?
A happy existence of peace and goodwill,
me on assistance and you on the pill: is that so wrong?
But no one sees it my way. "Get a life" is what they say.
Well, I'm all spent, all sentimentally retarded now,
you know it's true.
I may have shot what life I've got, but I don't want a life,
I just want you.
I just want you to be with me here,
and I don't care much if it's not such a good idea.
If falling short of happy is the best that we can do,
who needs happiness? I'd rather have you.
Who needs happiness if I can't have you, too?
If it's true that I have to choose between the two,
who needs happiness? I'd rather have you.
The song "As Long As I Have You" by Lee Grant is a heart-wrenching ode to love and the sacrifices that one is willing to make to keep it. The song talks about a person who is sitting around doing nothing but thinking about their loved one who is not there with them. They are constantly haunted by the memories that they shared and the overwhelming desire to have their loved one back in their arms. Although they are sad and worried about the future, they believe that enduring this "hell on earth" might just be worth it as long as they have their partner by their side.
Grant cleverly uses metaphors to describe the emotions that the singer is feeling. He compares his devotion to an "ocean of uneasiness, distraction, worry, grief and stress," which exemplifies how love can simultaneously be a source of comfort and anxiety. Grant also suggests that love is both sadness and madness, but in the end, it is all worth it because having the person you love by your side is worth any hardships that come with it.
In the second verse, the singer wonders why life always seems to be an uphill climb, while their dreams remain unfulfilled. The happy existence that they imagine is one where they are together, even if it means living on assistance and birth control pills. The singer understands that outsiders might judge their love and their lifestyles, but they don't care about their opinions. The singer just wants to be with their loved one and will do whatever it takes to keep them close.
Overall, "As Long As I Have You" is a poignant reminder of the lengths that people are willing to go to keep that special someone by their side. Grant successfully captures the struggle of love and what it can mean for those who are completely devoted to their partner.
Line by Line Meaning
Sitting around here with nothing to do.
Being idle and unoccupied with my thoughts consumed by you, which is causing me to feel drained and exhausted.
It's wearing me down dear, just thinking of you,
The constant thinking of you and our separation is causing me distress and exhaustion.
how it's been so long since I held you close,
I miss the intimacy we shared and how long it's been since we were physically close.
how things could go wrong when I need you most.
The thought of not having you when I need you the most and the risk of things going uncertainly is daunting and worrying.
My devotion is an ocean of uneasiness, distraction, worry, grief and stress.
My intense loyalty and devotion towards you is filled with difficult emotions such as anxiety, distraction, apprehension, sorrow, and tension.
For love is sadness.
Love can often be associated with sorrow and melancholy.
Love is madness.
Love can also be connected to a state of mental illness or irrationality.
Love is thinking if I make it through this hell on earth, it might be worth it.
Love can make one believe that enduring any amount of suffering could be worthwhile if it means being with the person they love.
Who needs happiness?
The artist rhetorically questions the value of happiness when compared to having the person they deeply love.
I'd rather have you.
Having the person they love is more important to the artist than anything else.
Roaming these hallways with dreams unfulfilled--
Feeling lost and aimless with unaccomplished dreams that have yet to be realized.
why do they always seem so uphill?
The artist feels like their dreams and aspirations have been unattainable and difficult to achieve.
A happy existence of peace and goodwill,
A life filled with joy, contentment, and benevolence.
me on assistance and you on the pill: is that so wrong?
The singer is questioning whether or not their lives and circumstances are valid or acceptable, despite needing assistance or medication.
But no one sees it my way. "Get a life" is what they say.
The singer acknowledges that their perspective is not shared by others, and they are often criticized for it with the phrase "get a life".
Well, I'm all spent, all sentimentally retarded now,
The artist feels emotionally exhausted and drained.
you know it's true.
The artist is emphasizing the genuineness of their emotional state and that it is not just fleeting.
I may have shot what life I've got, but I don't want a life,
The singer may have made poor choices in life but would prefer to have no life at all than one without the person they love.
I just want you.
The singer's only desire is to be with the person they love.
I just want you to be with me here,
The artist wants to be with their loved one, regardless of the consequences or if it is not a rational choice.
and I don't care much if it's not such a good idea.
The artist is not concerned with the potential negative consequences and just wants to be with their loved one.
If falling short of happy is the best that we can do,
The artist is accepting that being with their loved one may not equate to a happy life but is still worth it to them.
who needs happiness? I'd rather have you.
The singer believes that having the person they love is more important to them than happiness.
Who needs happiness if I can't have you, too?
The artist suggests that happiness is not attainable without the person they love.
If it's true that I have to choose between the two,
The singer is acknowledging that they may have to make a choice between being happy and being with their loved one.
who needs happiness? I'd rather have you.
The singer concludes that being with the person they love is more important to them than anything else, including happiness.
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