The band claims to be from the village of Noid, England, near Bath. However, no such town exists in England. "Noid" has been suspected of being a pun on the "No ID, No Sale" campaign in pubs in the UK.
Forming in the fertile swamps of England’s West Country in the mid-naughties, around the axis of Dan Taylor (guitarist and songwriter) and Kelvin Swaby (vocalist and songwriter,) the Heavy immediately astounded. Jaw dropping, freshly minted riffs, swinging hip-hop drums, funk-ridden bass and Swaby’s startling, Mayfield-esque vocals meant early singles ‘That Kind of Man’ and ‘Colleen’ blew minds and won hearts. The debut album they were taken from – ‘Great Vengeance and Furious Fire’ – became an instant connoisseurs’ classic.
It was their sophomore album, though, that saw them blasting into homes across the globe. ‘The House that Dirt Built’. It also yielded the mighty ‘How You Like Me Now?’ The single was licensed for a major commercial in the 3rd Quarter of the Superbowl (the biggest ad slot in the world) and quite simply went stratospheric.
“It became such a big tune, that people asked, ‘How are you going to top that?’.” Swaby says.
The answer was 2012’s ‘The Glorious Dead,’ the band’s third album. Even deeper, a touch darker, and with shades of Southern Gothic infesting the swampy rock n’ soul of previous records, the album was another giant step forward, Frankensteining swampy voodoo and b-movie zombies with garage rock and Gospel-soaked soul.
Lead single ‘What Makes a Good Man?’ showed that The Heavy were able to write brilliant singles time after time, with synchs snowing in once again, and American radio coming on board. The band toured the world exhaustively, wowing audiences with their transcendental live performances.
“It was over the top, in a good way,” adds Heavy frontman Kelvin Swaby. “We went pretty cinematic, setting out to score a film that hasn’t been written.”
“It’s good to have a bit of light and shade,” Taylor adds.
Since then, The Heavy has gone on to achieve storming success in Japan, playing Fuji Rock, chalking up a #1 alternative album on iTunes Japan, scoring a major Pepsi synch and playing Japan’s biggest breakfast TV show, ‘Sukkiri.’
Their music was used in the stunning Guiness Sapeurs ad, they played Glastonbury, sold out Shepherd’s Bush Empire and re-recorded How You Like Me Now? with none other than 50 Cent, to launch ESPN’s coverage of the NFL Draft Week.
To top it all, How You Like Me Now? reached Gold status in the United States – a stunning achievement for an English, independent artist. How to top all that, you might ask? Well, there’s a new album on the way, and The Heavy just happen to have a habit of exceeding themselves…
Long Way From Home
The Heavy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got the blues well it seems so far
Temptation all around the air that I breath
But you ain't got to worry 'cause you tamed the beast
And in the summer time
That we lost
Out of time and
At a cost
I'll never be a prophet in my own land
When I'm a long way from home
With so much pressure on my bones
I'm such a long way from home
But I'll be back soon
Tongue tied on the telephone line
You got the words to help me ease up my mind
No one love me like the way that you love me so
I got to tell you from the tip of my tongue
'Cause I know where I'll find you
I know just where you lie
Always deep in my heart
You're by my side
I know it's hard
When I'm a long way from home
With so much pressure on my bones
I'm such a long way from home
But I'll be back soon (yeah)
(I'm coming home)
I know where I'll find you
I know just where you lie
Always deep in my heart
You're by my side
It's so hard
When I'm a long way from home
It's so much pressure on my bones
I'm such a long way from home
But I'll be back soon
I'm gonna be back soon
Oh, I'm gonna be back soon
Daddy gonna be back soon, yeah
The Heavy's song "Long Way From Home" talks about the loneliness, alienation, and pressures experienced by the singer who is far away from home. The opening line "Got my mind like the Pope got God" compares the singer's state of mind to the belief system of the Pope, indicating the weight and burden of his thoughts. The line "I got the blues well, it seems so far" implies that the singer is sad and homesick. The chorus "When I'm a long way from home, with so much pressure on my bones" reinforces the idea of the singer feeling the weight of his situation.
The second verse brings in a glimmer of hope in the person of someone who understands him and who he can confide in. He is tongue-tied on the telephone line and the words of this person of interest give him some relief from his troubles. "No one love me like the way that you love me so" emphasizes the significance of this person in his life. The repetition of the lines "I know where I'll find you, I know just where you lie, always deep in my heart, you're by my side" shows that the singer finds solace in the thought of this person's company.
Line by Line Meaning
Got my mind like the Pope got God
My thoughts are fully consumed and fixed, resembling the Pope's unwavering devotion to God.
I got the blues well it seems so far
I feel melancholic and distressed, and it appears as though there's no end in sight for my blues
Temptation all around the air that I breathe
I'm surrounded by lures that entice me, and it's almost as if I'm inhaling the temptation.
But you ain't got to worry 'cause you tamed the beast
But you don't need to fret because you've succeeded in curbing and controlling my temptations, desires and impulses.
And in the summertime, that we lost
During the previous summer, when we shared something special, we lost it.
Out of time and at a cost
Our time together ran out, and it saddened us both at a cost.
I need someone who can understand
I'm searching for someone who can empathize, comprehend, and relate to my situation.
I'll never be a prophet in my own land
I'll never be perceived as remarkable, influential or extraordinary by those close to me.
When I'm a long way from home, with so much pressure on my bones
When I'm away from home, carrying the weight of stressful situations on my mind and body.
Tongue-tied on the telephone line
On the phone and unable to express myself with clarity or coherence.
You got the words to help me ease up my mind
You possess expressions that assist me in relaxing and calming my disturbed mind.
No one loves me like the way that you love me so
No one loves me in the manner that you express your affection towards me.
I got to tell you from the tip of my tongue
I have to communicate this to you with utmost sincerity and urgency.
'Cause I know where I'll find you
Because I'm aware of where I'll find you, both physically and emotionally.
I know just where you lie
I know your location, but more importantly, I know your nature and qualities.
Always deep in my heart, you're by my side
You're always present in my heart, as if you're beside me.
It's so hard when I'm a long way from home
It's excruciatingly difficult when I'm far away from home.
It's so much pressure on my bones
It feels like the intense stress and weight of the situation is burdening my entire body.
I'm such a long way from home
I'm so far away from home.
But I'll be back soon
But I'll return within a short while.
Daddy's gonna be back soon, yeah
I, the singer, will be returning home soon as implied by 'Daddy.'
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CHRIS ELLUL, DAN TAYLOR, KELVIN SWABY, SPENCER PAGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind