It'll Take A Long Time
Sandy Denny Lyrics
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And everything is lost,
And the fretful sailors calling out their woes,
As to the waves they're tossed.
Oh they are all gentlemen,
And never will they know
If there is a reason each of them must go,
And it'll take a long, long time.
It'll take a long, long time.
It'll take a long, long time.
Oh it'll take such a long, long time.
There is no need for rules,
There's no-one to score the game
And there is nobody living in this town
As even knows its name.
Oh it'll take such a long, long time.
It'll take a long, long time.
It'll take a long, long time.
A long, long time.
The lyrics of Sandy Denny's song "It'll Take A Long Time" are highly reflective of the personal and emotional struggle that the artist went through in her life. The song draws a metaphorical comparison between a stormy sea and the treacherous journey of life, where everything seems lost and hopeless. The opening lines "Oh it's like a storm at sea, and everything is lost" sets the mood for the entire song, symbolizing the unrelenting challenges and hardships of life.
The second verse of the song is particularly poignant, where Sandy talks about the uncertain fate of the sailors who are tossed to and fro by the tumultuous waves of the sea. The sailors are all gentlemen, and they will perhaps never know the reason why they are compelled to join the cruel flow. This can be interpreted as an analogy to the human struggle with the inevitability of death. The sailor's journey through the stormy sea is similar to our journey through life, which is fraught with uncertainty and unpredictability.
The lyrics of "It'll Take A Long Time" thus convey a deep sense of melancholy and loss, but at the same time, inspire hope and resilience. The repeated refrain "It'll take such a long, long time" serves as a reminder that the road ahead may be long and arduous, but with perseverance and determination, we can weather the storm and emerge stronger.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh it's like a storm at sea
The situation is chaotic and unpredictable, just like a stormy sea.
And everything is lost,
In the middle of the storm, everything that once was certain is now gone.
And the fretful sailors calling out their woes,
The sailors, scared and worried about their fate, are shouting out their fears and doubts.
As to the waves they're tossed.
The sailors are being thrown around by the waves, with no control or stability.
Oh they are all gentlemen,
The sailors are respectable men who follow the rules of society.
And never will they know
They will never understand or have a reason for why this is happening to them.
If there is a reason each of them must go,
There may or may not be a reason for each sailor's fate, but they will never know.
To join the cruel flow.
The sailors must accept their fate and become a part of the cruel cycle of life and death.
And it'll take a long, long time.
The process of coming to terms with this chaotic situation will be a lengthy one.
It'll take a long, long time.
The journey towards acceptance will be a difficult and prolonged one.
It'll take a long, long time.
The path to peace and understanding will not be easy, and will require patience and endurance.
Oh it'll take such a long, long time.
The journey towards acceptance may seem endless and unbearable.
There is no need for rules,
In the midst of chaos, there is no structure or order to cling to.
There's no-one to score the game
There is no one to keep track of what is happening or to judge the outcome.
And there is nobody living in this town
In this isolated, chaotic place, there is no one to rely on or turn to for help.
As even knows its name.
This place is so far removed from society that it doesn't even have a name known to others.
A long, long time.
The journey towards acceptance may seem endless and unbearable.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Sandy Denny
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@andybricky1927
Precious little songbird, did you have to go,
For you went and left, those who loved you so,
You who had a voice, velvet laced with gold,
Those many gifts you left, now never to grow old.
You who like my daughter left us far to soon,
Her special gift was her smile, yours a pretty tune,
Sent to help me through my days, sitting in my room,
You shine a little light upon me and help to lift my gloom.
So to you I listen, a smile and then a tear,"
Who knows where the time goes", as I'm sitting here,
One day my mood may lighten, no-one really knows,
"It'll take a long time", as the melancholy grows.
So I send to you this message, the only way I know,
For you are both in my thoughts, everywhere I go,
And if you meet my Sarah, say hello from me,
If we will "Meet on the ledge" I must wait to see.
@davidfountaine3218
Does she not have one of the most beautiful haunting voices. Never tire of listening to her
@jackryder-sw9rk
indeed she did, her voice still breaks my heart.
@davidfountaine3218
After seeing your reply just had to play the song again and feel so much better for doing it.@@jackryder-sw9rk
@petdoe8938
Beautiful just beautiful
@davidfountaine3218
Her voice blew me away 50 years ago and still does.
@mgmassey174
Having loved this song since it came out...i find myself oddly disconcerted by the tears rolling down my face at 63.
Such a beautiful soul who created gorgeous music that moved people.
Gone too soon.
Bless your heart Miss Denny
@rickmartin6817
Do you feel, as I do, that she captured the feel of the 70s in her music?
@mgmassey174
@@rickmartin6817 she was beyond timeless
@rickmartin6817
@@mgmassey174 Yes, she was. The way her music makes me feel.....Man, nobody else does that like her.
@mgmassey174
@@rickmartin6817 I've had the best of on my CD player for thirty years.
It's on heavy rotation.😉
Got to see her on her last tour in Atlanta.
I'll never forget it.🤗💐