There was a girl I used to know
She was oh so beautiful
But she's not here anymore
She had a college degree
Smart as anyone could be
She had so much to live for
But she fell in love
With the wrong kinda man
He abused her love and treated her so bad
There was not enough education in her world
That could save the life of this little girl

How come, how long
It's not right, it's so wrong
Do we let it just go on
Turn our backs and carry on
Wake up, for it's too late
Right now, we can't wait
She won't have a second try
Open up your hearts
As well as your eyes

She tried to give a cry for help
She even blamed things on herself
But no one came to her aid
Nothing was wrong as far as we could tell
That's what we'd like to tell ourselves
But no, it wasn't that way
So she fell in love
With the wrong kinda man
And she paid with her life
For loving that man
So we cannot ignore,
We must look for the signs
And maybe next time we might save
Somebody's life

How come, how long
It's not right, it's so wrong
Do we let it just go on
Turn our backs and carry on
Wake up, for it's too late
Right now, we can't wait
She won't have a second try
Open up your hearts
As well as your eyes

I on occasion met that guy
It's been a feeling deep inside
Some ... wasn't right
The way he proves himself a man
By beating his woman with his hands
Oh I wish that she'd seen the light
How can someone like that call himself a man
He's not a man
Soon reality ...
And we cannot ignore
Whenever we see the signs
'Cause any kind of abuse
God knows, it's a crime

How come, how long
It's not right, it's so wrong
Do we let it just go on
Turn our backs and carry on
Wake up, for it's too late
Right now, we can't wait
She won't have a second try
Open up your hearts
As well as your eyes




Lyrics submitted by kevin

How Come How Long Lyrics as written by Stevie Wonder Kenneth Edmonds

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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How Come, How Long song meanings
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8 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment

    They left out the bridge! Here's what I can understand of it.... "I on occasion met that guy. There stirred a feeling deep inside; something bout him wasn't right./ The way he proves himself a man, by beatin his woman with his hand, oh I wish that she had seen the light./ How can someone like this call themself a man? (He's not a man!), Cause in reality, he's far more than his big hand./ And we cannot ignore whenever we see the signs, cause ANY kind of abuse, God knows, is a CRIME."

    Great song with a great message. Wish it had been a bigger hit.

    chosen1forlifeon May 01, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    the lyrics are so sad she paid with her life! but i dont get the story behind it..and why.yeah but i like the chorus part the best

    SingleRedRoseon May 29, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love the story behind it. This had always been my favorite song on the album. It proves the ways abuse can go and how to avoid situations like that.

    imamudwhistleon July 08, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Well, I formatted the lyric a bit... Better? Any mistakes? Also, after the 2nd Chrous, there's a missing part.

    Suggestions? PM me.

    -- SM Mod.

    P.S. I love this song. :)

    Idanon July 19, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    beautiful song... i'm also sorry that US needs someone to sing a song about abusing women, they really don't have enough education about this things (so he says), i guess

    5raon August 16, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    a look into the reality of abuse

    djhtjlon April 28, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    That's so mean!

    Tourniquet2007on May 04, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Found this song on an old CD as I was going through stuff. I've been listening to it a lot since. My gf was in a relationship like this some time ago.. I'm glad her story was different and she got out, but I'm sad for the others.

    drego5on December 16, 2011   Link

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