Long Way Home
Vanessa Williams Lyrics


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It's hard to say from where you stand
Exactly when it all began
But someplace there's a point you cross the line
You see the tears than stain your face
Mirrored in your make-up case
And know it's time to leave this place behind

[Chorus:]
It's a long way home
It's a long way home
It's a long way home
Trying to retrace your steps
All too easy to forget
Just which way to go
It's a long way home

Outside the sky is threatening
You slowly gather up your things
And wonder how you ever will explain
Walking out so self-assured
Yeah, you were gonna change the world
Walking back, a child in the rain

It's a long way home
It's a long way home
It's a long way home
How can you retrace the steps
You've been trying to forget
Still it's time to go
And it's a long way home

And if you lose your way
Just keep your eye upon that endless broken line

Throw bag beneath the bus
Sit among the curious
It happens to the best of us, you know

It's a long way home
It's a long way home
It's a long way home
Starting to retrace your steps
You learn to live with your regrets
Next stop heaven knows
It's a long way home




Such a long way
It's a long way home

Overall Meaning

In Vanessa Williams's song "Long Way Home," the lyrics evoke feelings of nostalgia, regret, and an uncertain and difficult path towards redemption. The first verse explores the idea of hitting rock bottom and coming to terms with the reality that leaving a negative situation is necessary for growth. The chorus repeats the phrase "It's a long way home" to emphasize the difficult journey towards finding one's footing once again. The second verse adds on to this sentiment by describing a feeling of loss and confusion after leaving, with the line "walking back, a child in the rain" pointing to the vulnerability that comes with the process of starting over. The bridge provides a hopeful message that even when lost, one can still find their way and move forward. The lyrics suggest that, although painful, acknowledging your mistakes and regrets is necessary to moving on.


Overall, the song's message is one of finding redemption and making peace with past choices, even when the journey to get there is difficult.


Line by Line Meaning

It's hard to say from where you stand
It's difficult to identify the exact moment when you began to encounter the problems that you're currently facing.


Exactly when it all began
Trying to pinpoint the origin of the issues is proving to be elusive.


But someplace there's a point you cross the line
At some stage of the situation, you reached the point of suffering and made the decision to change things.


You see the tears that stain your face
Realizing the pain and emotions that have brought you to present circumstances.


Mirrored in your make-up case
The physical appearance of yourself reflects the pain you're hiding underneath the layers of makeup.


And know it's time to leave this place behind
Accepting that the changes to make must include leaving what's currently holding you back.


It's a long way home
The road towards a better life or healing takes an extended, strenuous journey.


Trying to retrace your steps
Looking back to recollect what went wrong to understand your current state of being.


All too easy to forget
The process of retracing may lead to moments where bitterness can make one forget even the good times.


Just which way to go
With limited directions, it's challenging to choose the best path towards recovery.


Outside the sky is threatening
Nature's conditions can symbolize and communicate deep emotions that we are experiencing, such as confusion or hopelessness.


You slowly gather up your things
Taking your time and packing your items demonstrates a desire to create a new life.


And wonder how you ever will explain
There can be an awkward feeling when it comes to explaining your past and current actions to people.


Walking out so self-assured
Feeling confident when you began making changes for yourself.


Yeah, you were gonna change the world
Ambitious goals to make significant changes not only to one's life but globally.


Walking back, a child in the rain
But as you step back, confusion can arise again, and you may feel vulnerable and exposed in your attempt to start anew.


How can you retrace the steps
It can be daunting to relive the past that caused you to make significant changes in your life.


You've been trying to forget
The desire to put past painful memories and experiences behind you constantly motivates decisions for a better future.


Still, it's time to go
The present moment can only be a catalyst for the future, and we must take action to make positive changes.


And if you lose your way
It's expected to experience some confusion and missteps in making significant changes.


Just keep your eye upon that endless broken line
Focus on the end picture to avoid getting lost in the waves of challenges faced during the journey towards transformation.


Throw bag beneath the bus
The physical act of putting luggage below the bus represents hope and intention to leave behind the person we once were.


Sit among the curious
There's a sense of adventure and mirroring of life in people when we look at another person's experiences.


It happens to the best of us, you know
Humans are resilient creatures, but we all encounter trials that test us.


Starting to retrace your steps
A gradual acceptance of the past to understand the present and make better decisions.


You learn to live with your regrets
Overcoming regrets older decisions can bring about positive changes of mindset and create opportunities for growth.


Next stop heaven knows
The destination ahead of you is unknown but hope still reigns, and your newfound sense of control is a step in a positive direction.


Such a long way
The journey towards a better life can be long, but the finish line brings immense satisfaction.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BROCK PATRICK WALSH, ERIC CARMEN, PHILIP E. GALDSTON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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