So Long
Una Healy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They wave goodbye, flow with the wind
When the winter comes, they've all fallen down
Leaves the willow all alone
Why'd you keep me waiting so long?
You keep me waiting, hanging on
Why'd you keep me waiting so long?
I shop till I drop and I drink 'til I drown
I keep myself out on the town
'Cause I don't want to come back to an empty place
Just like that sad lonely old willow
Its leaves are my tears
Why'd you keep me waiting so long?
You keep me waiting, hanging on
Why'd you keep me waiting so long?
So long, so long?
Leaves, tears
Leaves and tears, they fall down, leaves and tears
Leaves and tears, they fall down, leaves and tears
Leaves and tears, they fall down
Leaves and tears, they fall down
Leaves and tears, they fall down
Leaves and tears, they fall down
Leaves and tears, they fall down
Why'd you keep me waiting so long?
You keep me waiting, hanging on
Why'd you treat me so wrong, yeah?
So long, so long, so long?
Leaves and tears, they fall down
Leaves and tears, they fall down
The lyrics of the song 'So Long' by Una Healy speaks about the sadness and loneliness that one feels after being left behind by a loved one. The opening lines "All the leaves of the willow, They wave goodbye, flow with the wind" can be interpreted as a metaphor for a lover leaving, with the willow tree representing the lovers. The leaves falling down symbolize the end of the relationship, leaving the willow tree all alone. The singer then goes on to talk about how she keeps herself busy by going out, shopping and drinking but it doesn't help as she doesn't want to come back to an empty place, just like the sad and lonely willow.
The chorus, "Why'd you keep me waiting so long? You keep me waiting, hanging on" is a plea to the lover to come back and end the waiting and the loneliness. The repeated phrase 'leaves and tears, they fall down' further emphasizes the sadness and pain that the singer feels. The song has a sad and melancholic tone throughout.
Line by Line Meaning
All the leaves of the willow
The tree's leaves are falling
They wave goodbye, flow with the wind
The leaves are being carried away by the wind, as if waving goodbye
When the winter comes, they've all fallen down
By winter, all the leaves have fallen and the tree looks empty
Leaves the willow all alone
The tree is left alone and bare
Why'd you keep me waiting so long?
Asking a question to someone who kept the artist waiting for a long time
You keep me waiting, hanging on
The subject made the singer wait with no further explanation
So long, so long?
Repeating the question and expressing frustration
I shop till I drop and I drink 'til I drown
Trying to distract oneself from loneliness with shopping and drinking
I keep myself out on the town
Going out and socializing to avoid being alone at home
Just like that sad lonely old willow
Comparing oneself to the lone willow tree
Its leaves are my tears
The tree's leaves falling is a visual representation of the singer's tears
Leaves, tears
Repeating the metaphor of leaves and tears representing sadness and loneliness
Leaves and tears, they fall down, leaves and tears
Repeating the metaphor again
Why'd you treat me so wrong, yeah?
Asking why the subject mistreated the singer
So long, so long, so long?
Repeating the previous question with frustration
Leaves and tears, they fall down
Repeating the metaphor of leaves and tears representing sadness and loneliness
Contributed by Kylie P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.