Saint Etienne are one of the bands who defined the early 90s indie dance genre, fusing the production values of the dance-pop that emerged in the wake of the Second Summer of Love with the clever lyrics and self-aware production of indie music.
Been so long
Saint Etienne Lyrics
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Came 'round here to see me
You'd stay here 'til the morning
Can't stop myself from falling
In love with you
You know we'll never be the same
Been so long
I'm tired of being alone
There's a way to go
Honey I know now
I'm calling you on the phone
Pretending nothing has changed here
But strangely familiar tracks are falling
You came without a warning
I'm glad you're here
To take these lonely tears away
Been so long
It's been so long
I'm tired of being alone
There's a way to go
Honey I know now
I'm calling you on the phone
On the phone
Been so long
It's been so long
I'm tired of being alone
There's a way to go
Honey I know now
I'm calling you on the phone
On the phone
On the phone
The lyrics for Saint Etienne's song "Been So Long" tackles the theme of unrequited love between two people. The song starts by acknowledging the singer's anticipation for their crush's arrival, expecting they will not leave until the morning comes. The singer heavily implies that they have feelings for this person, despite knowing that their love is unlikely to be reciprocated. The lines "Can't stop myself from falling/In love with you/You know we'll never be the same" suggest that the singer is aware of the risks of their situation, and yet they cannot help their feelings. They continue to express their desire for this person, calling them on the phone in the hopes of persuading them to give their relationship a chance.
As the chorus repeats, the lyrics continue to emphasize the singer's loneliness and desire to be with their crush, "It's been so long/I'm tired of being alone/There's a way to go/Honey I know now/I'm calling you on the phone." They acknowledge that there is a significant distance between them and their crush, but they remain optimistic that they can bridge that gap and make their love work.
The final lines of the song reinforce the singer's desperation, repeating the chorus once more. Overall, the lyrics of "Been So Long" are filled with melancholy and longing, as the singer struggles with their unrequited love.
Line by Line Meaning
I knew when you
I had a feeling that when you came to see me, something special would happen
Came 'round here to see me
Visited me, came to my place
You'd stay here 'til the morning
I knew you would stay the night with me
Can't stop myself from falling
Falling in love with you is something I can't control
In love with you
I am deeply in love with you
You know we'll never be the same
Our relationship will never be the same as before, it has changed
Been so long
It's been a long time since I've had someone close
It's been so long
It's been so long since I've had someone to love
I'm tired of being alone
I'm tired of being alone and not having anyone to share my life with
There's a way to go
There is still a long way to go in my search for love
Honey I know now
I have finally realized and accepted the truth
I'm calling you on the phone
I'm taking the initiative to reach out to you and express my feelings
Pretending nothing has changed here
Acting as if everything is exactly the same as before
But strangely familiar tracks are falling
Certain patterns and signs are reminding me of the past, even though things have changed
You came without a warning
You appeared suddenly and unexpectedly
I'm glad you're here
I'm happy and relieved that you are with me now
To take these lonely tears away
Your presence is comforting and healing, it's helping me move on from sadness and loneliness
On the phone
Expressing my emotions and desires over the phone, hoping for a positive response
On the phone
Continuing to call and communicate in hopes of building a deeper connection
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BOB STANLEY, PETER STEWART WIGGS, SARAH CRACKNELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind