The name of the song comes from an actual street, high in the Hollywood Hills overlooking Sunset Boulevard, which affords panoramic views of Hollywood and much of the Los Angeles basin. It is reached by following a rather complicated route, which is all the harder to navigate on a foggy night — thus creating the backdrop for the opening lines of the song: "There's a fog upon L.A. / And my friends have lost their way"
According to Harrison: "Derek Taylor (Beatles publicist) got held up. He rang to say he'd be late. I told him on the phone that the house was in Blue Jay Way. And he said he could find it OK... he could always ask a cop. So I waited and waited. I felt really knackered with the flight, but I didn't want to go to sleep until he came. There was a fog and it got later and later. To keep myself awake, just as a joke to pass the time while I waited, I wrote a song about waiting for him in Blue Jay Way. There was a little Hammond organ in the corner of this house which I hadn't noticed until then... so I messed around on it and the song came."
Blue Jay Way
The Beatles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And my friends have lost their way
We'll be over soon they said
Now they've lost themselves instead
Please don't be long
Please don't you be very long
Please don't be long
Well, it only goes to show
And I told them where to go
Ask a policeman on the street
There's so many there to meet
Please don't be long (don't be long)
Please don't you be very long (don't be long)
Please don't be long
Or I may be asleep
Now it's past my bed I know
And I'd really like to go
Soon will be the break of day
Sitting here in Blue Jay Way
Please don't be long (don't be long)
Please don't you be very long (don't be long)
Please don't be long
Or I may be asleep
Please don't be long
Please don't you be very long
Please don't be long
Please don't be long
Please don't you be very long
Please don't be long
Please don't be long
Please don't you be very long
Please don't be long
Don't be long, don't be long
Don't be long, don't be long
Don't be long, don't be long
Don't be long
The lyrics to The Beatles' Blue Jay Way explore the feelings of isolation and anxiety that can come with waiting for someone who is lost. The fog over LA and the lost friends are both physical and metaphorical representations of the confusion and uncertainty that comes with trying to find one's way. The repetition of "Please don't be long" underscores the urgency and desperation of the singer as they wait, their only choice being to sit alone in Blue Jay Way.
The sense of paranoia is heightened by the line "Ask a policeman on the street, there's so many there to meet," as it suggests that the singer is worried about running into the law. The last few lines of the song, "Don't be long, don't be long," are particularly poignant as they become increasingly frantic, almost like a plea or a prayer.
In conclusion, Blue Jay Way is a haunting tribute to the feeling of being lost, both geographically and emotionally. The song is a reminder of the importance of friends and the fear of isolation when they are not there, as well as a warning about the dangers of being alone in the dark.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a fog upon L.A.
The city is covered in fog.
And my friends have lost their way
The singer's friends are lost and cannot find their way.
We'll be over soon they said
His friends assured him they would arrive soon.
Now they've lost themselves instead
Instead of finding the way, his friends have lost themselves.
Please don't be long
The singer is anxious for his friends to arrive quickly.
Please don't you be very long
He repeats his request for them to arrive soon.
Please don't be long
The singer is worried he might fall asleep waiting.
Or I may be asleep
He might fall asleep while waiting for his friends.
Well, it only goes to show
The situation highlights something significant.
And I told them where to go
The singer gave his friends directions to Blue Jay Way.
Ask a policeman on the street
He suggests asking a police officer for assistance.
There's so many there to meet
There are many policemen available to help.
Now it's past my bed I know
He acknowledges that it is late and he is tired.
And I'd really like to go
He wants to leave and go to bed.
Soon will be the break of day
Daybreak is coming soon.
Sitting here in Blue Jay Way
The singer is waiting in a location called Blue Jay Way.
Don't be long
He is again requesting his friends to arrive quickly.
Don't be long
He is becoming increasingly anxious for their arrival.
Don't be long
He wants his friends to arrive as soon as possible.
Don't be long
He is repeating his request, hoping his friends will arrive soon.
Don't be long
He is becoming more and more anxious and worried about his friends' absence.
Don't be long
He is urging his friends to hurry up because he is tired and wants to go to bed.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George Harrison
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sophigames8786
Please, he's merely a demigod
the TRUE god is Ringo Starr and what power does he use for instruments?
H I S M I N D
Edit: I see another believer of his in the replies, I welcome you brother or sister.
@lysergic9698
There's a fog upon L.A.
And my friends have lost their way
We'll be over soon they said
Now they've lost themselves instead
Please don't be long
Please don't you be very long
Please don't be long
Or I may be asleep
Well, it only goes to show
And I told them where to go
Ask a policeman on the street
There's so many there to meet
Please don't be long (don't be long)
Please don't you be very long (don't be long)
Please don't be long
Or I may be asleep
Now it's past my bed I know
And I'd really like to go
Soon will be the break of day
Sitting here in Blue Jay Way
Please don't be long (don't be long)
Please don't you be very long (don't be long)
Please don't be long
Or I may be asleep
Please don't be long
Please don't you be very long
Please don't be long
Please don't be long
Please don't you be very long
Please don't be long
Please don't be long
Please don't you be very long
Please don't be long
Don't be long, don't be long
Don't be long, don't be long
Don't be long, don't be long
Don't be long
@ella-qh8re
George Harrison is the main reason why I play the floor.
@lindamiller9357
That was good!!!!!
@marenostrum751
This comment make me really happy, I was thinking that I was the only one!
@brucekilby9957
I play the floor and then clean it,so there's a lot to said for playing the floor like Crazy but George did it so it's cool ok.
@kellykeeler3442
Same thou
@_PuppetMaster86
Same. I’m still trying to learn all the pavement notes.
@michaelfenemore1168
The floor is the only instrument you can't tune properly. It's always flat.
@curtisworden8395
Big brain joke :)
@paulinamccharmley
Ah but does it need sweeping?!
@Akhenatonification
Interestingly enough, they aren't always. Staying at the Heartbreak Hotel in Dover, Delaware in my room I found that they owners had nailed the bed & table to the floor so they would not slide downhill. They 2 provided chairs with wheels just in case guests wished to entertain themselves!