How Long
Newton Lyrics


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Take all, take all this love
Cause these hands of mine none strong enough
I don't know if it all goes wrong
Every stone we throw's been thrown before

For so long, so long, so long
For so long, so long, so long
Make all, make all your plans
As the seconds leave you, wash your hands
Off your old, your old commands
As you cross every line we drew in the sand

For so long, so long, so long
For so long, so long, so long

Ooh, everything is still now
As the line is cast and the moments pass
Ooh, everything is clear now
As the stars go out and we'll sleep a little deeper

They call, they call this love
And it's raining down on all of us
What more, what more is last
As we dig our way into the dust, dust

So long, so long, so long
For so long, so long, so long

Ooh...





For so long, so long, so long
For so long, so long, so long

Overall Meaning

In Newton's song "How Long," the lyrics tell the story of a hesitant lover who is unsure if their love will last. The lyrics "Take all, take all this love/Cause these hands of mine none strong enough" suggest that the singer is willing to give their all to the relationship, but is unsure if they have the strength to make it work.


The lyrics "Every stone we throw's been thrown before" indicate that past relationship troubles have been cyclical, throwing stones at each other and causing pain. The singer is worried that they will repeat these past mistakes and wants to prevent that from happening. The lyrics "For so long, so long, so long" indicate that the singer has been grappling with these relationship issues for a long time.


As the song progresses, the singer becomes more resolved in their desire to make the relationship work. The lyrics "Make all, make all your plans/As the seconds leave you, wash your hands/Off your old, your old commands/As you cross every line we drew in the sand" suggest that the singer is ready to let go of past mistakes and outdated expectations in order to move forward.


The song ends on a note of hope, with the singer feeling at peace with their decision to commit to the relationship. The lyrics "Ooh, everything is still now/As the line is cast and the moments pass/Ooh, everything is clear now/As the stars go out and we'll sleep a little deeper" suggest that the singer has found clarity and peace in their relationship.


Line by Line Meaning

Take all, take all this love
Accept and embrace love wholeheartedly.


Cause these hands of mine none strong enough
Inadequacy of oneself to hold onto love.


I don't know if it all goes wrong
Uncertainty of the future of a relationship.


Every stone we throw's been thrown before
History repeats itself in relationships, and we must learn from the mistakes of past generations.


Make all, make all your plans
A call to make plans for the future.


As the seconds leave you, wash your hands
Forgive yourself for past mistakes and move forward.


Off your old, your old commands
Let go of past beliefs or ways of thinking.


As you cross every line we drew in the sand
Breaking down barriers and exploring uncharted territory.


Ooh, everything is still now
A moment of clarity and reflection.


As the line is cast and the moments pass
Time is always moving forward- one must make the most of the present.


Ooh, everything is clear now
A newfound understanding or revelation.


As the stars go out and we'll sleep a little deeper
Finding peace in the midst of chaos.


They call, they call this love
Society has placed the label 'love' on many forms of human connection.


And it's raining down on all of us
The all-encompassing nature of love and its ability to touch everyone.


What more, what more is last
Questioning what comes next after love.


As we dig our way into the dust, dust
The ephemeral nature of life and love- nothing lasts forever.




Writer(s): Keith Martin Beauvais, John Ignatius Mclaughlin, David Raymond Richard James, David Raymond Richard James, John Ignatius Mclaughlin

Contributed by Austin E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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