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.
Like a blue bird with his heart removed, lonely as a train
I've run just as far as I can run
If I never see the good old days shinin' in the sun
I'll be doin' fine and then some
How long, how long
Woman will you weep
How long, how long
Rock yourself to sleep
Well I been doin' time in lonesome prison, where the sun don't shine
Just outside, the freedom river runs
Out there in that shiny night, with blood hounds on your mind
Don't you know it's the same sad situation?
Everybody feels alright you know, I heard some poor fool say (somebody ooh)
Everyone is out there on the loose
Well I wish I lived in the land of fools, no one knew my name
But what you get is not quite what you choose
Tell me, how long, how long
Woman will you weep
How long, how long
Rock yourself to sleep
How long, how long (long and drawn out)
Muddy River runs so deep
How long, how long (long and drawn out)
Good night baby, rock yourself to sleep
Sleep tight baby, rock yourself to sleep
Be-be-be, bye bye baby, rock yourself to sleep
I've run just as far as I can run
If I never see the good old days shinin' in the sun
I'll be doin' fine and then some
How long, how long
Woman will you weep
How long, how long
Rock yourself to sleep
Well I been doin' time in lonesome prison, where the sun don't shine
Just outside, the freedom river runs
Out there in that shiny night, with blood hounds on your mind
Don't you know it's the same sad situation?
Everybody feels alright you know, I heard some poor fool say (somebody ooh)
Everyone is out there on the loose
Well I wish I lived in the land of fools, no one knew my name
But what you get is not quite what you choose
Tell me, how long, how long
Woman will you weep
How long, how long
Rock yourself to sleep
How long, how long (long and drawn out)
Muddy River runs so deep
How long, how long (long and drawn out)
Good night baby, rock yourself to sleep
Sleep tight baby, rock yourself to sleep
Be-be-be, bye bye baby, rock yourself to sleep
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
This was written by J.D. Souther, who also co-wrote some of the Eagles' biggest hit songs including "Best of My Love", "Heartache Tonight" and "New Kid In Town." Songfacts.com have some interesting information about this and other tracks from Long Road Out Of Eden.
From an interview with JD Souther about the song The Eagles had a hit last year with a version of your song "How Long," which was written back in the 1970s about the Vietnam War. How do you feel that it's still relevant?
A: I'm delighted they did the song, and grateful for radio responding to it and people listening to it and music fans thinking it was relevant. But I'm sorry that it's necessary. I wish there wasn't a war anymore. Most people wish that. I don't know that there's a single soul that wants to be at war... I'm maintaining a kind of guarded optimism. I don't see any upside to being a pessimist. By choice, I'm an optimist.
I love this song, it reminds me of the Eagles' older material.
I don't understand why here are so few comments.
They kinda explained it on "60 Minutes" (CBS News), I think it's how their fans grow and live their life with their songs, thus how long. Watch it here: last.fm/music/Eagles/+videos/3233786
I... Didn't get any of that out of this song. Although, I agree with TrainCrash up here; it really is classic Eagles style! Amazing song!
What it looks like to me is basically what just about every other Eagles song is about: love, either the good or bad side. You can tell just from the chorus. "How long, how long, woman, will you weep?" Like talking to a woman who's thrown herself at plenty of men and just falls apart every time it doesn't work out. The last line in the chorus emphasizes that. In saying "Rock yourself to sleep," he's basically saying she doesn't deserve the sympathy anymore.
The second verse fits too perfectly in with that. In a nutshell, he's sayin' it's the same situation between being in prison and being in love. "Don't you know it's the same sad situation." Basically, it can be a prison being trapped in love. That's just what it looks like to me.
This song is about a PoW in Vietnam. Line Women will you weep is his loved one at home lonesome prison - is the pow camp
Plus when it was written was in the aftermath of the vietnam war...