At the time of their 1990 debut, the kind of rock & roll the Black Crowes specialize in was out of style. Only Guns N' Roses came close to approximating a vintage Stones-style raunch, but they were too angry and jagged to pull it off completely. The Black Crowes replicated that Stonesy swagger and Faces boogie perfectly. Vocalist Chris Robinson appropriated the sound and style of vintage Rod Stewart while guitarist Rich Robinson fused Keith Richards' lean attack with Ron Wood's messy rhythmic sense. At their best, the Black Crowes echo classic rock without slavishly imitating their influences.
The Robinson brothers originally formed the Black Crowes in Georgia in 1984. By the time of their 1990 debut, Shake Your Money Maker, the group comprised Chris Robinson (vocals), Rich Robinson (guitar), Johnny Colt (bass), Jeff Cease (guitar), and Steve Gorman (drums). "Jealous Again," the first single from Shake Your Money Maker, was a moderate hit but it was the band's cover of Otis Redding's "Hard to Handle" that made the group a multi-platinum success. "Hard to Handle" climbed its way into the Top 40, propelling the album into the Top Ten. The acoustic ballad "She Talks to Angels" became the band's second Top 40 hit in the spring of 1991. Shake Your Money Maker would eventually sell over three million copies.
The Black Crowes delivered their second album, The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion, in the spring of 1992, adding new lead guitarist Marc Ford and keyboardist Eddie Harsch. It entered the charts at number one, but it didn't have as many hit singles as the debut; none of the singles cracked the Top 40 and only "Remedy" and "Thorn in My Pride" made the Top 100. Nevertheless, the band established themselves as a popular concert attraction that summer, selling out theaters across America. The Black Crowes' third album, Amorica, arrived in late 1994. Amorica debuted in the Top Ten, but none of the singles from the album made the charts; even though the record went gold, it slipped off the charts in early 1995.
Three Snakes & One Charm, the group's fourth album, was released in July of 1996. The album entered the charts at number 15, but it quickly slipped out of the Top 50. Nevertheless, the album received the best reviews of any Crowes album since The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion. Guitarist Marc Ford was fired from the Black Crowes in August, 1997; two years later, the group returned with By Your Side. In mid-2000, the band collaborated with Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page on the double-disc Live at the Greek, an eclectic mix of newly recorded Zeppelin covers and additional classic blues cuts. A Tribute to a Work in Progress: Greatest Hits 1990-1999, a 16-track best-of compilation was also released in mid-2000. The Don Was-produced Lions appeared in spring 2001, and a summer tour with Oasis -- the Tour of Brotherly Love -- followed in June. But all was apparently not well with the group, in January of 2002 the band announced that they were on hiatus. Drummer Steve Gorman was fired from the band, and Chris Robinson announced his intentions for a solo career.
The Black Crowes have since reunited. All members circa 1992 are back, with the addition of one of their previous bassists, Sven Pipien, and harmony singers Mona Lisa Young and Charity White. They are enjoying a renaissance within the group as well as with their longtime fan base and have been consistently touring since formally reuniting in March 2005. In November of 2007, it was announced that North Mississippi Allstar guitarist Luther Dickinson formally joined the band, replacing Paul Stacey. He appears throughout the Crowes' album Warpaint, which was released in March of 2008.
In late 2019, during an interview on The Howard Stern Show, Chris and Rich Robinson announced that they had resolved their differences (the brothers hadn't spoken in the years since the band's 2015 split). Besides the Robinson brothers, the reunited lineup featured an entirely new backing band including guitarist Isiah Mitchell (from the bands Earthless and Golden Void), bassist Tim Lefebvre (formerly of the Tedeschi Trucks Band), keyboardist Joel Robinow, and drummer Raj Ojha. This line-up premiered at The Bowery Ballroom in New York City on November 11, 2019 where they played the entire Shake Your Money Maker album.
Been A Long Time
The Black Crowes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tied to crimson velvet wings (she flies)
New moon midnight star, medicine is in the jar
Headful of going far, (she flies)
Lost out on the dream road
Looking for a keyhole
Never try to fight it, feeling right inside it....
Clear crystal burning mind, (she flies)
Falling through liquid air with music everywhere
Stone faces silent stare, (she flies)
The old guard on the hill can feel the chill
Deep into the freeze of those who don't believe
[Chorus:]
Been a long time (Waiting on Love) [4x]
Damp with this morning dew the world is bright and new
Her word is always true, she flies
Step into the new day right over the old way
We are the horizon see our future smilin'
[Chorus:]
Been a long time (Waiting on Love) [4x]
Lost out on the dream road
Looking for a keyhole
Never try to fight it, feeling right inside it....
[Chorus: Two times to end]
Been a long time (Waiting on Love) [4x]
The lyrics of "Been a Long Time" by The Black Crowes talk about two characters, a dream child and a blushing bride, who are both lost but still looking for something in their lives. The dream child is tied to her crimson velvet wings, which symbolizes her being grounded by her necessities, yet she still flies. She has a head full of going far but has lost out on the dream road and is looking for a keyhole. The blushing bride is blind to the ways of time but has a clear crystal burning mind. She falls through liquid air with music everywhere, and stone faces silently stare at her. The old guard on the hill can feel the chill deep into the freeze of those who don't believe.
The chorus repeats the phrase "Been a long time (Waiting on Love)" four times. The dream child and blushing bride are both waiting on love, hoping for something different in their lives. The phrase "Been a long time" could also refer to how much time has passed since they last felt love or since they started their search.
The song encourages the characters to step into the new day and see their future smiling. They should never try to fight the feeling of being right inside it, indicating that they should trust themselves and not resist what they really want in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Earthbound wingless dream child born to necessity
The person described in the song was born with humble origins, and their dreams may be limited due to their circumstances.
Tied to crimson velvet wings (she flies)
The person has found a way to transcend their limitations and soar above their circumstances.
New moon midnight star, medicine is in the jar
The person is finding hope and healing in something new.
Headful of going far, (she flies)
The person is focused on moving forward and reaching their goals.
Lost out on the dream road
The person has faced setbacks or obstacles in their pursuit of their dreams.
Looking for a keyhole
The person is searching for a way to unlock their potential.
Never try to fight it, feeling right inside it....
The person is learning to trust their instincts and go with the flow rather than resisting change.
Low country blushing bride blind to the ways of time
Another character in the song is naive and inexperienced.
Clear crystal burning mind, (she flies)
This character also has potential and the ability to transcend her circumstances.
Falling through liquid air with music everywhere
This character is experiencing a moment of freedom and joy.
Stone faces silent stare, (she flies)
Other people may not understand or support this character's journey.
The old guard on the hill can feel the chill
The established order or authority may be threatened by these characters defying expectations.
Deep into the freeze of those who don't believe
Some people are actively opposed to these characters and their ambitions.
Been a long time (Waiting on Love) [4x]
The chorus conveys a sense of longing and waiting for something important and meaningful, perhaps love or fulfillment.
Damp with this morning dew the world is bright and new
The world is full of fresh opportunities and potential.
Her word is always true, she flies
The person spoken of is trustworthy and reliable, and is able to rise above their circumstances.
Step into the new day right over the old way
The song encourages embracing the new and leaving behind outdated or limiting beliefs.
We are the horizon see our future smilin'
The song ends on an optimistic note, with the suggestion that the future is bright and full of possibilities.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
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