In 1981 Ad van den Berg worked with vocalist Jos Veldhuizen, bassist Peter Van Eyk, and drummer Bico De Gooijer in a band called Teaser. He auditioned for Thin Lizzy, without success. With a new line-up (Bert Heerink (vocals), Ad Van Den Berg (guitar), Dick Kemper (bass), and Jos Zoomer on drums), Teaser recorded a demo that fell into the hands of pop-journalist Kees Baars. Baars offered to manage the group, and contracted the band at Atlantic Records in the U.S..
Their debut-album was recorded at former Led Zeppelin's guitarist Jimmy Page's studio, and in 1983 their first single, Burning Heart, reached #5 in the US charts. Vandenberg toured the US as opening act for Ozzy Osbourne and KISS, and toured independently in Japan in 1984. Different Worlds, from their second album also did fairly well in the charts, but did not equal the success of Burning Heart.
The band's third album was recorded in the Netherlands, produced by Jaap Eggermont, manager of the Golden Earring. The album flopped, and not long after the band parted ways with lead-singer Bert Heerink. Demos with new lead singer Peter Struyk were not well received by Atlantic.
Around that time, Ad van den Berg (who often uses an Anglicized version of his Dutch name: Adrian Vandenberg) played as a guest-soloist on the Whitesnake album, and in 1987 Whitesnake vocalist David Coverdale asked him to join the band permanently. With the band Vandenberg amounting to nothing, the guitarist accepted the invitation.
The other members also started or joined other projects: Jos Zoomer and Peter Struyk joined Avalon, and Dick Kemper started a new band, No Exqze.
In 2004 there was a reunion session of Vandenberg, and they released a double-CD, "The Definitive Vandenberg", a compilation of the band's best songs and featuring a newly-recorded version of "Burning Heart". In January, 2005 the band released a DVD with footage of a 1984 Tokyo concert.
How Long
Vandenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Somehow I'm getting used to, hangin' 'round 'til you've made up your mind
Everytime you need me, you just call knowing that I will be right there
A fool for your love, but I don't care
Chorus:
How long, how long will you keep me hangin' on
How long, how long, don't know if I can hold on
I never realized love is more than a game to play
Now it's my heart that breaks and it hurts so bad
(chorus)
So many things to do, so many things to say
(What you wanted to say, we shouldn't wait too long)
We shouldn't wait too long, it seems like such a waste
(Solo)
So many things to do, so many things to say, oh
We shouldn't wait too long, it seems like such a waste (how long)
How long?
(chorus)
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The song "How Long" by Vandenberg is about a man who has finally found the love he has been searching for, but unfortunately, his love interest is not fully committed to the relationship. The man is willing to do anything for the woman he loves, and he is always available to her whenever she needs him. Despite the fact that she keeps leading him on and giving him mixed signals, he is still willing to wait for her to make up her mind. The chorus is a plea for her to decide how long she plans to keep him hanging on, as he's uncertain if he can endure the emotional exhaustion for long.
As the song progresses, it becomes evident that the man is beginning to realize that love is not just a game to be played, as he used to think in the past. He used to be a heartbreaker and played with women's feelings, but now that he has found someone he truly cares for, he has begun to understand how painful it is to have a broken heart. However, he is still willing to wait for the woman he loves to respond to his devotion.
The song's message is that love should not be taken for granted, and one should cherish and treasure it when it comes their way. It is important to make decisions and be honest with the people around us, especially when it comes to matters of the heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ADRIAAN VANDENBERG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
rockrabbitt
It took so long to find you, now you say that you need some more time
Somehow I'm getting used to, hangin' 'round 'til you've made up your mind
Everytime you need me, you just call knowing that I will be right there
A fool for your love, but I don't care
Chorus:
How long, how long will you keep me hangin' on
How long, how long, don't know if I can hold on
I never realized love is more than a game to play
Used to spend my time, breaking hearts now I find that I'm paying my debt
Now it's my heart that breaks and it hurts so bad
(chorus)
So many things to do, so many things to say
(What you wanted to say, we shouldn't wait too long)
We shouldn't wait too long, it seems like such a waste
(Solo)
So many things to do, so many things to say, oh
We shouldn't wait too long, it seems like such a waste (how long)
How long?
(chorus)
perpetual61
Lyrics:
It took so long to find you
Now you say that you need some more time
Somehow I'm getting used to
Hangin' 'round till you've made up your mind
Everytime you need me
You just call knowing that
I will be right there
A fool for your love, but I don't care
How long, how long
Will you keep me hangin' on
How long, how long
Don't know if I can hold on
I never realized
Love is more than a game to play
Used to spend my time
Breaking hearts now I find that I'm
Paying my debt
Now it's my heart that breaks
And it hurts so bad
How long, how long
Will you keep me hangin' on
How long, how long
Don't know if I can hold on
So many things to do, so many things to say
(What you wanted to say, we shouldn't wait too long)
We shouldn't wait too long, it seems like such a waste
So many things to do, so many things to say, oh
We shouldn't wait too long, it seems like such a waste (how long)
How long, how long
Will you keep me hangin' on
How long, how long
Don't know if I can hold on
ajaxrules1975
Adrian's solos are always spot on !
Lori Cain
For Sure😍
Claudio Fendrik
Qqqqq
rockrabbitt
It took so long to find you, now you say that you need some more time
Somehow I'm getting used to, hangin' 'round 'til you've made up your mind
Everytime you need me, you just call knowing that I will be right there
A fool for your love, but I don't care
Chorus:
How long, how long will you keep me hangin' on
How long, how long, don't know if I can hold on
I never realized love is more than a game to play
Used to spend my time, breaking hearts now I find that I'm paying my debt
Now it's my heart that breaks and it hurts so bad
(chorus)
So many things to do, so many things to say
(What you wanted to say, we shouldn't wait too long)
We shouldn't wait too long, it seems like such a waste
(Solo)
So many things to do, so many things to say, oh
We shouldn't wait too long, it seems like such a waste (how long)
How long?
(chorus)
Rosa Del Pilar obrosarco
Mi balada favorita !mi única vida sin ensayos!💓
Mr. 7
One of my favorite songs growing up. Awesome ballad.
Lucia Molina Ainaga
Las mejores baladas ,salen de grandes grupos
Silverback
That solo!❤️
TOTAL ARMAGEDDON / CÈSAR GONZÀLEZ
Que poder de banda, una de las mejores!!!
Gerwin Stellingwerf
I listened to this song from the age of 2 (1992) and as a dutch kid I always figured this was the real sound of America, picturing the palm trees of L.A. in my mind and the cool, outlandish rock dudes who were on the cover of the CD (Countdown Rock Ballads).
20 years later I found out that this was sung by a guy that probably grew up 40 kilometers from my home town, haha! Only adds to the dreamy atmosphere of this song, ROCK ON!