Long Walk Home
Neil Young & Crazy Horse Lyrics


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If you see Liberty tell her I will
Buy her windows on the hill
Laud her flowers on the sill
Till they grow higher and higher.

If Liberty was a little girl
Watching all the flags unfurl
Standing at the big parade
How would she like us now?

We balance the power
From hour to hour
Giant guns rage
It's such a long walk home
It's such a long walk home
It's such a long walk home.

From Vietnam to old Beirut
If we are searching for the truth
Why do we feel that double-edged blade
Cutting through our hand.

America, America
Where have we gone?
It's such a long walk home
It's such a long walk home
It's such a long walk home.

We balance the power
From hour to hour
Giant guns rage
It's such a long walk home




It's such a long walk home
It's such a long walk home.

Overall Meaning

Neil Young's Long Walk Home is a telling commentary on the state of America and its symbols. The opening verse embodies the irresponsibility of the ruling class. The persona of the song sends a message to the Statue of Liberty – the American symbol of liberalism and the freedoms therein – that he is on his way to purchase the windows on the hill and tend to the flowers on the sill. Liberty is seen as a little girl, watching the flags unfurl and standing at a big parade. The second verse implores Liberty to think about how she would feel about the state of the nation if she were alive today.


The chorus, "It's such a long walk home," suggests that the distance between the American dream and reality has grown wider. The phrase is repeated thrice, emphasizing the distance between American ideals and practices. The third verse relays the senselessness of war and the government's lack of empathy. The sentiment is also expressed in the final verse, which questions where America's power and humanity have gone. The song paints a picture of a divided society, which can only be united by collective empathy and accountability.


Line by Line Meaning

If you see Liberty tell her I will
If you come across liberty, let it know that I will come to meet it.


Buy her windows on the hill
I will get windows on the top of the hill for liberty.


Laud her flowers on the sill
I'll praise the flowers set on liberty's ledge.


Till they grow higher and higher.
I'll keep on praising them till they increase in length.


If Liberty was a little girl
If liberty were a young girl,


Watching all the flags unfurl
observing all the flags as they unfurl,


Standing at the big parade
standing in the middle of the grand parade,


How would she like us now?
What will liberty's opinion of us be now?


We balance the power
We consistently evaluate the balance of power.


From hour to hour
From one hour to the next,


Giant guns rage
Violently massive guns fire off,


It's such a long walk home
The journey home feels infinitely long.


It's such a long walk home
The journey home feels infinitely long.


It's such a long walk home.
The journey home feels infinitely long.


From Vietnam to old Beirut
From Vietnam to ancient Beirut


If we are searching for the truth
if we're looking for the truth,


Why do we feel that double-edged blade
Why is that double-edged blade cutting through our hand,


Cutting through our hand.
Cutting through our hand so easily.


America, America,
America, America,


Where have we gone?
Where have we ended up?


It's such a long walk home
The journey home feels infinitely long.


It's such a long walk home
The journey home feels infinitely long.


It's such a long walk home.
The journey home feels infinitely long.


We balance the power
We consistently evaluate the balance of power.


From hour to hour
From one hour to the next,


Giant guns rage
Violently massive guns fire off,


It's such a long walk home
The journey home feels infinitely long.


It's such a long walk home
The journey home feels infinitely long.


It's such a long walk home.
The journey home feels infinitely long.




Lyrics © Silver Fiddle, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: NEIL YOUNG

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Geoffrey Snyder

Even though I was a hardcore "Rustie" for many years even after the Neiler went off the deep end with his political comments this album is the anthem of every Gulf War veteran.

kangooroo1

THANKS.. AND FOR THE NICE LYRICS FONT..

Jeff Kirpach

Cmon, it's a good song...

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