They began recording during the mid-80s, picking up the name 'Baseball Boys' as a reference from a gang of hooligans from the cult film 'The Warriors'. Changing things around to 'The Outfield', perhaps a hint of their later American success due to their affinity for U.S. culture, they released their first album, titled 'Play Deep', in 1985 through Columbia Records. Picking up critical acclaim for their melodic rock sound, the album reached #9 on the Billboard 200 list and ended up reaching triple platinum status in America. As remarked by an Allmusic reviewer, the band had a knack for making "a harmonious chorus that is overly smooth and rock savvy." Their single "Your Love" reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 as well as #7 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart, and it soon became their 'signature song. It has went on to be featured in a number of 80s-themed compilation albums, and over a thousand covers and remixes by other artists have been released physically and/or online. Other singles "Say It Isn't So" and "Everytime You Cry" also made it into the top 20 on Mainstream Rock chart.
Though possibly peaking too early, the band continued to record and tour through the 80s and then into the early 90s as the Anglo-American pop rock and power pop scenes evolved. While their second album, titled 'Bangin'', hit the top 20 on the Billboard 200 list had both singles hit the top 40 on the Mainstream Rock chart, the group began losing their popular audience by their third album, 'Voices of Babylon', came out in 1989. Though receiving critical acclaim, the rock mainstream seemed to have shifted considerably underneath them. Drummer Alan Jackman left, and, now as a duo, they recorded 'Diamond Days' in 1991. After the disappointing response to their 1992 album 'Rockeye', which represented a shift towards progressive rock and arena rock, the group essentially disbanded for much of the 90s.
They resumed touring in 1998, and thereafter the band released two live albums via their website. The group's comeback album, 'Any Time Now', was released by Sidewinder Records in March 2006 and constituted a comeback to their traditional pop rock sound. In mid-2009, the Outfield entered a London studio to begin recording their seventh studio album. Titled 'Replay', it saw a June 28, 2011 release, with the band's cult following enjoying deliberately retro sounding songs such as "California Sun". Their music popping up in various places (from Katy Perry recording a Outfield cover titled "Use Your Love" to the 'Grand Theft Auto: Vice City' video game using their music), the guys had somewhat of a resurgence of interest at the tail end of their career. Although popular interest in the band waxed and waned since their 80s musical heyday, their group maintained a devoted fan base among followers of the power pop genre for many years.
Guitarist and songwriter John Spinks died in July 2014, succumbing to liver cancer after a long and tough battle. He was 60. The group released a statement saying: “We are relieved that his passing was peaceful and painless.” After taking a few years off from music, lead singer/bassist Tony Lewis released a solo album in 2018 but died on 19 October 2020 in his house near London.
Long way home
The Outfield Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Another ride trying to clear my head
But all I hear is just the beat of my heart
I think of her but I see you instead
[Chorus]
And there's a thousand little lies
A thousand little reasons
And there's a thousand little voices
Inside my head saying
Take the long way home
I tell myself that it's all over
But then I see you and I just don't know
What should I listen to my heart or my mind
Too tired to think about the way I should go
[Chorus]
There's no one out there when you need to decide
And you're on your own
You keep on thinking 'bout the wrong that you've done
You try to hide but there's no place to run
[Chorus]
The Outfield's song Long Way Home is a poignant portrayal of a man who is struggling to come to terms with his conflicted feelings. He is driving alone, trying to clear his mind, but instead, he is reminded of the two women in his life: one is his past love, and the other is his present infatuation. The singer is in a dilemma at a crossroads on whether to pursue love or turn his back on it completely. The lyrics reflect on his emotional turmoil, the anguish of pondering his options, and the fear of making the wrong choice. The chorus highlights the complexity of the situation as he struggles with the many voices in his head suggesting different directions to take. The chorus sums up the singer's vulnerability: "Take the long way home," which suggests he is not ready to face the decision and will continue to drift along until he reaches a conclusion.
Line by Line Meaning
I drive these streets alone in silence
I am driving down these roads all by myself without anyone around me, and there is complete silence
Another ride trying to clear my head
I'm taking this ride to try and relieve my thoughts and emotions, to put my head in a clearer space.
But all I hear is just the beat of my heart
Despite the silence outside, I can only hear the sound of my own heartbeat, beating in my chest
I think of her but I see you instead
I'm trying to forget someone, but when I remember them, I see you instead and it confuses me
And there's a thousand little lies
There are many tiny lies in my mind which I am trying to ignore
A thousand little reasons
There is an abundance of small reasons that keep me here, even though there are just as many reasons to leave
For me to stay, for me to go
I'm stuck between whether I should stay or go
And there's a thousand little voices
There are multiple voices in my head, making me undecided and confused on what to do next.
Inside my head saying
The voices are all inside my head, and they are all pushing me in different directions
Take the long way home
As a result of all of this confusion and uncertainty, I think I ought to take the long way home
I tell myself that it's all over
I keep trying to tell myself that it's all done and dusted and there's nothing more to be done
But then I see you and I just don't know
However, when I come face to face with you, I'm not really sure about my own feelings and if I'm over it or not.
What should I listen to my heart or my mind
I'm confused whether I should trust my emotions or logic when it comes to making this decision.
Too tired to think about the way I should go
I'm honestly running out of energy as I continue to mull over this situation, and I just don't know where to go or what to do anymore.
There's no one out there when you need to decide
When it comes to making big decisions in life, I never find the appropriate support or guidance when I actually need it.
And you're on your own
I'm completely alone, and I have to make all decisions by myself without any external help whatsoever.
You keep on thinking 'bout the wrong that you've done
I keep thinking about all the bad things that I may have done, and I'm genuinely worried that they will come back to haunt me in the near future.
You try to hide but there's no place to run
I try to hide from all of these negative thoughts and emotions, but they always seem to catch up with me no matter where I go or how hard I try to avoid them.
Chorus
The repetition of the chorus shows how the struggle between staying and leaving continues to remain unresolved no matter how much time has passed.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JOHN FREDRICK SPINKS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Christopher Banez Lim
" there's a thousand little lies
a thousand little reasons
For me to stay - for me to go
And there's a thousand little voices
inside my head saying
Take the long way home"
may not be the SUPERTRAMP track but it is just as damn good
R.I.P. : John Spinx
Jedd Robeyan
I drive these streets alone in silence
Another ride trying to clear my head
But all I hear is just the beat of my heart
I think of her but I see you instead
And there's a thousand little lies
A thousand little reasons
For me to stay, for me to go
And there's a thousand little voices
Inside my head saying
Take the long way home
I tell myself that it's all over
But then I see you and I just don't know
What should I listen to my heart or my mind
Too tired to think about the way I should go
And there's a thousand little lies
A thousand little reasons
For me to stay, for me to go
And there's a thousand little voices
Inside my head saying
Take the long way home
There's no one out there when you need to decide
And you're on your own
You keep on thinking 'bout the wrong that you've done
You try to hide but there's no place to run
And there's a thousand little lies
A thousand little reasons
For me to stay, for me to go
And there's a thousand little voices
Inside my head saying
Take the long way home
Anurag Ate
Sad no one talks about Tony on this Song, this was a very special tune with astounding vocal changes of Tony and good guitar playing of John, of course! RIP Tony and John.....
Joe A.
This is one of my favorite albums that I purchased in 1987. Help me get through my deployment overseas. It did seem like we took the long way home.....
Johnny Boone
Same here.
Angel Alvarez
Positively a great song! great band! I'm 52 im from Venezuela, i grew up listening on the radio (AM) some of the greatests british,and US bands of the 60's,70's and 80's , one of my best friends in the University told me about this band in 1990, since the i fell in love with their music. True statement: " These were great artists who worked their asses off to write great songs".
Christopher Banez Lim
" there's a thousand little lies
a thousand little reasons
For me to stay - for me to go
And there's a thousand little voices
inside my head saying
Take the long way home"
may not be the SUPERTRAMP track but it is just as damn good
R.I.P. : John Spinx
William Gavalier
A great guitarist
Dominic Trujillo
If you don't get this song, you've never taken the long way home.
Gordon Gatt jnr
A Brilliant Song. One of my favorites from the Outfield :)
John D
This song holds so many memories for me....
leandro1ization
impresionante rola como cualquier grupo de rock britanico estadounidense o canadiense, sobre todo la bateria tocada espectacularmente por Alan Jackman por eso soy fande esta banda que para mi es una de las mejores del mundo.