The band's debut self-titled album was released on April 3, 2012. The album's first single, "Ho Hey" reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart.
The Ho Hey Songfacts reports that Schultz and Fraites were originally based in New York and started collaborating in 2002 after Fraites’ brother, Josh, who was also Schultz’s best friend died of an overdose. The pair began writing and performing to cope with their grief and they later relocated to Denver, where they met the classically trained Pekarek after advertising for a cellist.
Their self-titled debut album The Lumineers was released on April 3, 2012, on Dualtone Records.
Their second album, Cleopatra, was released in 2016.
The band's third album, titled III, was released on September 13, 2019 and debuted at No. 2 on the US Billboard 200.
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Long Way From Home
The Lumineers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
God and medicine take no mercy on him
Poisoned his blood, and burned out his throat
Enough is enough, he's a long way from home
Days of my youth wasted on a selfish fool
Who ran for the hills from the hand you were dealt
I flew far away, as far as I could go
Your time is running out
And I'm a long way from home
Laid up in bed, you were laid up in bed
Holding the pain like you're holding your breath
I prayed you could sleep, sleep like a stone
You're right next to me
But you're a long way from home
Hospital gowns never fit like they should
We yelled at the nurse, didn't do any good
More morphine, the last words you moaned
At last I was sure
That you weren't far away from home
The Lumineers' Long Way From Home references a difficult and painful journey for two individuals. The first verse portrays someone who is holding onto hope despite the odds stacked against him. This person may feel trapped like a noose or a rope, but he still believes that faith and medicine will eventually see him through. However, his body is starting to give up on him as the consequence of his lifestyle choices. He has poisoned his blood and burnt his throat. Thus, he's a long way from home. The phrase "long way from home" could be interpreted both literally and metaphorically in this song. It appears to epitomize a place of healing and restoration where he could find peace and reprieve from his current struggles.
The second verse is sung from the perspective of someone who's left home, and is looking back at the past with mixed feelings of guilt and regret. In this verse, the author is addressing a parent, who he feels was being selfish during his formative years. It could also allude to feelings of abandonment, where he had to fly away as far as he could go. He's now apprehensive and remorseful for not coming back sooner because he knows his parent's time is running out. It's a poignant moment in the song as the son might just be reminiscing about his emotions, experiences, and the consequences of his actions.
The third verse is about someone laying in a hospital bed who's been holding on to what little hope he has left. It's clear that they are enduring an immense amount of pain. The significance of the phrase "long way from home" is now much more apparent. It alludes to the horrors of being in a hospital, the lack of familiarity and security it brings, and ultimately how the presence of someone comforting can still leave one feeling alone.
Overall, The Lumineers' 'Long Way From Home' depicts the struggles of the physical body, the weight of one's past, and the chaos that takes over when trying to move forward. The track heralds both healing and loss and serves as a reminder that even though these journeys might be demanding, no one has to endure them alone.
Line by Line Meaning
Held on to hope like a noose, like a rope
He was holding on to the hope so tightly that it felt like being trapped by a noose or rope.
God and medicine take no mercy on him
Neither God nor medicine show any mercy towards him, despite his sufferings.
Poisoned his blood, and burned out his throat
His blood was poisoned and his throat was burnt, causing severe damage to his health.
Enough is enough, he's a long way from home
He has suffered enough and his condition is so bad that he is far from his home and family.
Days of my youth wasted on a selfish fool
He regrets wasting his youth on someone who was selfish and foolish.
Who ran for the hills from the hand you were dealt
The person he is referring to ran away instead of facing the difficult situation that life had dealt.
I flew far away, as far as I could go
He moved away to escape his past and start anew.
Your time is running out
The person he is referring to is in a critical condition and is not expected to survive for long.
And I'm a long way from home
He is feeling lonely and disconnected, being far away from his home and loved ones.
Laid up in bed, you were laid up in bed
The person he is referring to was bedridden and not able to move or do anything.
Holding the pain like you're holding your breath
The person is in so much pain that it feels like they are holding their breath and trying to not make any noise.
I prayed you could sleep, sleep like a stone
He wished that the person could get some much-needed rest and peace, like a stone that doesn't feel anything.
You're right next to me
The person he is referring to is physically close to him but emotionally and mentally distant.
But you're a long way from home
Despite being near him, the person is not in a good state and is far from the comfort of their home.
Hospital gowns never fit like they should
He is describing the discomfort and ill-fit of the hospital gowns that the person had to wear.
We yelled at the nurse, didn't do any good
He and the person's family were frustrated at the nurse's inability to provide any comfort or relief.
More morphine, the last words you moaned
The person's last words before passing away were a request for more morphine, indicating the intense pain they were in.
At last I was sure
Finally, he was certain about the person's fate and that there was no coming back from it.
That you weren't far away from home
Despite the person being physically away from their home, death had brought them closer to the afterlife and their eventual resting place.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jeremy Fraites, Wesley Schultz
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dr.firestorm2317
Held on to hope like a noose, like a rope
God and medicine take no mercy on him
Poisoned his blood, and burned out his throat
Enough is enough, he's a long way from home
Days of my youth wasted on a selfish fool
Who ran for the hills from the hand you were dealt
I flew far away, as far as I could go
Your time is running out
And I'm a long way from home
Laid up in bed, you were laid up in bed
Holding the pain like you're holding your breath
I prayed you could sleep, sleep like a stone
You're right next to me
But you're a long way from home
Hospital gowns never fit like they should
We yelled at the nurse, didn't do any good
More morphine, the last words you moaned
At last I was sure
That you weren't far away from home
Songwriters: Jeremy Fraites / Wesley Schultz
@-AlbertEinstein-
right now, there are people all over the world who are just like you.
They're either lonely, they're missing somebody,
they're depressed, they're hurt, they're scarred from the past,
they're having personal issues no one knows about,
they have secrets you wouldn't believe. They wish,
they dream and they hope. And right now,
they are sitting there reading these words,
and I'm writing this for you so you don't feel alone anymore.
Always remember, don't be depressed about the past,
don't worry about the future, and just focus on today.
If today's not so great don't worry! Tomorrow's a new chance.
If you are reading this,
be sure to share this around to make others to feel better. Have a nice day.
@bigslacker666
Every time I hear this song it feels like it was written from the perspective of my mom, taking care of my dad as he died of esophageal cancer. I get tears in my eyes every time. Tell the people close to you that you love them, you never know when it'll be the last time.
@TAKEyaLOOT2
I don't get the bad reviews. This album has been on repeat in my car, office and home since the day I downloaded it. It's an amazing album. Sorry there's no "Hey, Ho" concert banger on the album, but this is amazing music and amazing lyrics.
@RandomJ011
+TAKEyaLOOT2 I really like this song but it's one of the rare ones I do like. This album is nowhere near as good as their first but that happens with many bands, the "difficult second album".
@Inyria
+RandomJ011 I think this is much better than thier first album. ;3 (But that's my opinion!)
@sneakynation1414
+Shadows I agree with you, I loved the first album but this one is way better.
@itokewithcudder
the lyrics are the best part for sure but the guitar is really great too. it inspires me
@chasebaker4870
finally someone said it. I've felt exactly the same.
@ikmalarifseptiawan6330
This song makes me remember my parents when they struggled to live their days when they were sick.
My Mom got breast cancer in 2012 and passed away in 2013. My Dad got stroke in 2014 and passed away in 2015.
With my younger sister, I took care of them as good we could.
Still, the regret is still inside me until now. I feel like I could have been a better son.
Those years were really the hardest, worst, and most painful time of my life.
But that's what makes me.
I will never forget it.
It may sound funny but they are still the reasons I want to live my life. Living my life as good as I can. So, I can meet them again. Someday, somewhere, in a better place.
@Gaminating
Ikmal Arif Septiawan beautifully written and tragic story. Many thanks for sharing your story.
@trevmac8362
you'll see them again don't worry and there won't be no sickness just happiness