In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Long black limousine
Shiniest car I've ever seen
The back seat is nice and clean
She rides as quiet as a dream
Someone dug a hole six long feet in the ground
I said goodbye to you and I threw my roses down
Ain't nothing left at all in the end of being proud
With me riding in a race car, and you flying through the clouds
I've had some time to think about you
And watch the sun sink like a stone
I've had some time to think about you
On the long ride home
One day I took your tiny hand
Put your finger in the wedding band
Your daddy gave a piece of land
We laid ourselves the best of plans
Forty years go by with someone laying in your bed
Forty years of things you wish you'd never said
How hard would it have been to say some kinder words instead
I wonder as I stare up at the sky turning red
I've had some time to think about you
And watch the sun sink like a stone
I've had some time to think about you
On the long ride home
Headlights staring at the driveway
The house is dark as it can be
I go inside and all is silent
It seems as empty as the inside of me
I've had some time to think about you
And watch the sun sink like a stone
I've had some time to think about you
On the long, on the long
Oh the long, on the long
On the long ride home
Shiniest car I've ever seen
The back seat is nice and clean
She rides as quiet as a dream
Someone dug a hole six long feet in the ground
I said goodbye to you and I threw my roses down
Ain't nothing left at all in the end of being proud
With me riding in a race car, and you flying through the clouds
I've had some time to think about you
And watch the sun sink like a stone
I've had some time to think about you
On the long ride home
One day I took your tiny hand
Put your finger in the wedding band
Your daddy gave a piece of land
We laid ourselves the best of plans
Forty years go by with someone laying in your bed
Forty years of things you wish you'd never said
How hard would it have been to say some kinder words instead
I wonder as I stare up at the sky turning red
I've had some time to think about you
And watch the sun sink like a stone
I've had some time to think about you
On the long ride home
Headlights staring at the driveway
The house is dark as it can be
I go inside and all is silent
It seems as empty as the inside of me
I've had some time to think about you
And watch the sun sink like a stone
I've had some time to think about you
On the long, on the long
Oh the long, on the long
On the long ride home
Lyrics submitted by AmandaPanda345, edited by thereisanerror, wingnut422
Long Ride Home Lyrics as written by Patty Griffin
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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I think this song can be sung by either gender I don't think it has any contradictions that would kill it. But for me when Patty sings this song I think it's coming from her perspective which is why all the emotion is coming through, but that is only what works for me.
I wouldn't say that this song is about a bad marriage, it could be, but i don't think that is the point. Either in a bad or even a great marriage there is room for mistakes and i think she is really touching on the epiphany that is being felt by realizing that "Ain't nothing left at all in the end of being proud", she basically feels really stupid for standing her ground on things just because of her pride in anything, an argument, a major family decisions, really anything. Thats why i think her Music is great she seems to try to leave it open for any situation pertaining to the raw emotions she is putting out in the songs.
"Forty years of things you say you wish you'd never said How hard would it have been to say some kinder words instead"
This shows and supports the idea that she really just feels sad, lonely, and stupid for being like that(remember it could be anything she feels bad about cause she leaves it open), when she now realizes how short life is and how she can't take anything back and wished she knew what she knows now how she could have been better then she was.
Thank You Patty, You give me chills.