The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
So you think you're a Romeo
You're playing a part in a picture show
Well, take the long way home
Take the long way home
But you're the joke of the neighborhood
Why should you care if you're feeling good?
You take the long way home
Take the long way home
But there are times that you feel
You're part of the scenery
All the greenery is coming down, boy
And then your wife seems to think
You're part of the furniture
Oh, it's peculiar, she used to be so nice
When lonely days turn to lonely nights
You take a trip to the city lights
And take the long way home
Take the long way home
You never see what you wanna see
Forever playing to the gallery
You take the long way home
Take the long way home
When you're up on stage
It's so unbelievable
Unforgettable, how they adore you
But then your wife seems to think
You're losing your sanity, oh, calamity
Oh, is there no way out?
Does it feel that your life's
Become a catastrophe?
Oh, it has to be for you to grow, boy
And when you look through the years
And see what you could have been
Oh, what you might have been
If you'd had more time
So when the day comes to settle down
Well, who's to blame if you're not around?
You took the long way home
Take the long way home
Take the long way home
Take the long way home
Take the long way home
Take the long way home
Take the long way, take the long way
Take the long way home
You took the long way home
Long way home, long way home
You took the long way home
You took the long way home
Took the long way home
You took the long way home
You're playing a part in a picture show
Well, take the long way home
Take the long way home
But you're the joke of the neighborhood
Why should you care if you're feeling good?
You take the long way home
Take the long way home
But there are times that you feel
You're part of the scenery
All the greenery is coming down, boy
And then your wife seems to think
You're part of the furniture
Oh, it's peculiar, she used to be so nice
When lonely days turn to lonely nights
You take a trip to the city lights
And take the long way home
Take the long way home
You never see what you wanna see
Forever playing to the gallery
You take the long way home
Take the long way home
When you're up on stage
It's so unbelievable
Unforgettable, how they adore you
But then your wife seems to think
You're losing your sanity, oh, calamity
Oh, is there no way out?
Does it feel that your life's
Become a catastrophe?
Oh, it has to be for you to grow, boy
And when you look through the years
And see what you could have been
Oh, what you might have been
If you'd had more time
So when the day comes to settle down
Well, who's to blame if you're not around?
You took the long way home
Take the long way home
Take the long way home
Take the long way home
Take the long way home
Take the long way home
Take the long way, take the long way
Take the long way home
You took the long way home
Long way home, long way home
You took the long way home
You took the long way home
Took the long way home
You took the long way home
Lyrics submitted by bananahero
Take the Long Way Home-R.O.P. Lyrics as written by Roger Hodgson Richard Davies
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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