Her debut album Come Away with Me was released in 2002 and sold 26 million copies worldwide. It won 5 Grammy Awards in 2003. This album was produced by Arif Mardin.
Her second album, Feels Like Home, with folk tendency, is the highest-selling album in the history of Blue Note Records with over a million copies sold within the first week. Norah Jones was listed among the most influential people of 2004 by the Time Magazine.
On January 30, 2007 Norah Jones released her third album, Not Too Late - a collection of 13 original songs, itunes includes a bonus live track of the song Sinkin' Soon. This was the most pre-ordered album of all time on Amazon.com.
Her fourth studio album, The Fall, was released on November 17, 2009.
Her fifth studio album ...Little Broken Hearts was released on May 1, 2012 and she collaborated with Danger Mouse for its production. The Happy Pills Songfacts reports that the album was recorded at Danger Mouse's Los Angeles studio during the fall of 2011. The record was co-written by Jones and Danger Mouse, with the pair handling the majority of the instrumentals. Jones teamed up with the producer after she contributed vocals to his Rome project with Daniele Luppi.
The daughter of Beatles-influencing sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar, Jones doesn't closely follow any particular genre, rather she brings her unique jazzy flavor to songs with roots in country, folk, Americana, and modern light jazz, pop and rock.
Long way home
Norah Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm lost and alone
Though I said I'd go before us
And show the way back home
Is there a light up ahead?
I can't hold on very long
Forgive me pretty baby
But I always take the long way home
Money's just something you throw
Off the back of a train
I got a handful of lightening
And a hat full of rain
And I know that I said
I'd never do it again
Oh, and I love you sweet baby
But I always take the long way home
I put food on the table
And roof overhead
But I'd trade it all tomorrow
For the highway instead
Watch your back if I should tell
Your loves the only thing I've ever known
One thing's for sure sweet baby
I always take the long way home
You know I love you baby
More than the whole wide world
I'm your woman
I know you are my pearl
So let's go out past the party lights
Where we can finally be alone
Come with me
And we can take the long way home
Mm-mm, come with me
Together we can take the long way home
Mm-mm, come with me
Together we can take the long way home
Norah Jones's song The Long Way Home is a ballad that tells the story of a lost and lonely traveler who is searching for the path back to where he feels he belongs. The singer begins by admitting that he had promised to lead his companions home but has strayed off course and found himself in the dark, with no light to guide him. He sings about his inability to hold on for long in this uncertain situation but asks his love interest for forgiveness because he always takes the long way home.
The second verse finds the singer reflecting on the transitory nature of wealth, comparing it to something that can be easily thrown off the back of a train. He sings about having a handful of lightning and a hat full of rain, which could be interpreted as symbols of the intangible and changing nature of things. Despite knowing that he had promised never to make the same mistake again, the singer has returned to his old ways. The chorus repeats the refrain of taking the long way home while also referencing the trade-off between stability and the freedom of the road.
The final verse declares the singer's love for his partner and cements the idea that the two of them belong together. By inviting the listener to join them on a journey past the party lights, they can finally be alone and enjoy each other's company. The song ends on a hopeful note, with the couple planning to take the long way home together.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I stumbled in the darkness
I am lost and have no direction in life
I'm lost and alone
I have no one to turn to for guidance
Though I said I'd go before us
I promised to lead you on the right path
And show the way back home
And help you find your way back to a better life
Is there a light up ahead?
I am unsure if there is hope for a better future
I can't hold on very long
I am struggling and need your help
Forgive me pretty baby
Please forgive me for my mistakes
But I always take the long way home
But I always make things harder for myself
Money's just something you throw
Money isn't worth much in the grand scheme of things
Off the back of a train
It's easy to lose money and have it disappear
I got a handful of lightning
I have something special and rare
And a hat full of rain
But I also have a lot of troubles and worries
And I know that I said
I promised not to make the same mistakes again
I'd never do it again
But it's hard to break old habits
Oh, and I love you sweet baby
But I care about you more than anything
But I always take the long way home
I still struggle with making things harder than they need to be
I put food on the table
I provide for you in the best way I know how
And roof overhead
I make sure you have a safe place to live
But I'd trade it all tomorrow
But I would give it all up in a heartbeat
For the highway instead
For a chance to explore and seek adventure
Watch your back if I should tell
Be cautious if I ever express doubts about our relationship
Your loves the only thing I've ever known
Because you are the only thing in my life that is certain and true
One thing's for sure sweet baby
I may be unpredictable but my love for you is certain
I always take the long way home
I still struggle with finding the easy way out
You know I love you baby
I care about you more than anything in the world
More than the whole wide world
More than anything else in existence
I'm your woman
I am here for you and will always support you
I know you are my pearl
You are something precious and valuable to me
So let's go out past the party lights
Let's leave our problems behind us and enjoy life
Where we can finally be alone
Where we can connect on a deeper level
Come with me
Trust me and let's explore the world together
And we can take the long way home
It may not be easy, but we will get there eventually
Mm-mm, come with me
Let's embark on this journey together
Together we can take the long way home
We are in this together and will overcome any obstacles that come our way
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Kathleen Brennan, Thomas Alan Waits
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bailey Johnston
The Long Way Home"
Well I stumbled in the darkness
I'm lost and alone
Though I said I'd go before us
And show the way back home
Is there a light up ahead
I can't hold on very long
Forgive me pretty baby
But I always take the long way home
Money's just something you throw
Off the back of a train
Got a head full of lightening
And hat full of rain
And I know that I said
I'd never do it again
Oh well I love you sweet baby
But I always take the long way home
I put food on the table
And a roof overhead
But I'd trade it all tomorrow
For the highway instead
Watch your back if I should tell
Your love's the only thing I'd ever known
One thing's for sure sweet baby
I always take the long way home
Though I love you baby
More than the whole wide world
I'm your woman
You know you are my pearl
So let's go out past the party lights
Where we can finally be alone
Come with me and we can take a long way home
Come with me, together we can take the long way home
Come with me, together we can take the long way home
Patrick Johnson
This is a marvelous version. She takes Tom Waits song, which is in itself a thing of art, and make it her own. Excellent!
carlo pifferi
Patrick Johnson any dìffrent version at all Patrick, just a wanderful voice
Swordfishstick
This is one of those rare Waits covers that works beautifully - the song just fits Norah's voice so very well.
Adam Sandaver
she smashes it...
Cozy Zeal
Tom wrote it for her originally. He later released his own recording of it on his compilation Orphans album.
Aureus Venerabilis
One does not simply do a cover of Tom's song. But Ms Jones, you took it on another level of epicness...
alejandrosotoc
Commercial or not, she have a great voice. This version of Tom Waits song is incredible.
Michael Fisher
I bet Tom Waits likes it, too. Great artists recognize one another.
francisco castelli
I think she's way off of being a commercial singer-composer. And i think she's one of the most romantic artist of all time. Her love songs are si beauthyfull!!
JS Tyler
"Money is just a thing you throw from the back of a train" --I love that line.
Norah Jones sings this song so beautifully!