Long Time Traveller
The Wailin' Jennys Lyrics

The Wailin' Jennys’s “Long Time Traveller” is a spiritual song that tells about the passing of someone from this world to the next. The lyrics "These fleeting charms of earth, farewell, your springs of joy are dry" express the idea that the pleasures of this earthly life are fleeting and fleeting, and are not enough to satisfy the soul. The idea that the soul is seeking another home in a brighter world on high suggests the idea of an afterlife. The lines "Farewell kind friends whose tender care, has long engaged my love, your fond embrace I now exchange for better friends above" shows the singer saying goodbye to their loved ones and also suggests that they are going to a better place where there are better friends.

The lyrics are reflective of a traditional, gospel-style hymn, where the singer is expressing a deep sense of longing for the afterlife. The line "I'm a long time traveling here below, I'm a long time traveling away from home, to lay this body down" shows that the singer is aware of the fact that they are living in the physical world for a limited time and is ultimately waiting for their soul to depart and meet their maker. The song is incredibly moving and captures the essence of the human experience.