Their second studio release, titled Perfect Solutions and recorded in Abbey Road studios, London with the help of producer Nick Webb (has worked with artists and acts such as John Lennon, Queen, Pink Floyd and Duran Duran), sees the daylight in 2001 and is followed by Flashback Mornings with it’s hit single Walk All Night. The Hobos are hailed by many critics as the best thing to come out of Latvia in the last decade.
In 2004, after two long years, The Hobos came out with yet another successful release – band’s first double album Radio Jah Jah. A very special occasion, since the second CD is complied almost entirely of cover versions. Suffice to say, this another example of The Hobos long-standing search for original musical directions.
Since 2006 The Hobos are back in studio, working on their next release due, which is due out soon.
Also: a Brixton based Americana band
Too Long to Linger On
The Hobos Lyrics
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Got days, got years, got more
Got Green Card and the passport
Ain't got too long to linger on
Got whole wide world all opened
Got keys of all the knees
Got free ticket to the sun
Got map of the stars and the universe
And I got you going
Got skills of all the artificial ways
Got time …
The opening lines of Too Long to Linger On by The Hobos seem to suggest a sense of abundance and promise of good things to come. The singer seems to be listing all the things they have in life - time, roses, days, years, a Green Card, and a passport. The repetition of the word "got" creates a sense of accumulation and excess. However, despite all these blessings, the singer acknowledges that they don't have too long to linger on. There seems to be an undercurrent of urgency and impermanence, as if the singer is aware that time is fleeting and they need to make the most of it.
As the song progresses, the singer continues to list their possessions and accomplishments - they have the whole wide world at their disposal, keys to all the knees (which could be interpreted as a metaphor for control or power over others), and a free ticket to the sun. However, once again, they emphasize that they don't have too long to linger on. The final lines of the song are a bit more cryptic - the singer mentions having a map of the stars and the universe, as well as skills in "artificial ways." It's unclear what exactly these things refer to, but they seem to allude to the idea of limitless possibility and knowledge.
Overall, the lyrics of Too Long to Linger On convey a sense of restlessness and a desire to make the most of life while there's still time. The singer seems to be aware of their own mortality and the impermanence of all the things they've accumulated, which lends a bittersweet quality to the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Got time, got whole bunch of roses
I possess both a considerable amount of time and an abundance of roses.
Got days, got years, got more
I have not only days and years in my life, but also other things in many numbers.
Got Green Card and the passport
I have both a Green Card and a passport to travel freely.
Ain't got too long to linger on
However, I don't have much time left to procrastinate or delay.
Got whole wide world all opened
The entire world is open for me to explore.
Got keys of all the knees
I have the ability to access many places and opportunities.
Got free ticket to the sun
I have an opportunity to go on a trip to the sun without any cost.
Ain't got too long to linger on
Despite these incredible opportunities, I don't have much time to waste.
Got map of the stars and the universe
I hold knowledge about the stars and everything in the universe.
And I got you going
I have even managed to inspire you with my words.
Got skills of all the artificial ways
I possess knowledge of how to manipulate many artificial systems and processes.
Got time
Time, however, is the most valuable thing I have, and I must use it wisely.
Contributed by Makayla M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.