The Long Way
by Niko Stratis, 2023
We cannot help where we start the journey of our life’s grand purpose. For some, that’s a road we walk from birth to oblivion that never deviates down life’s many differing pathways.
For John-Allison Weiss, that journey is taking it’s time navigating an endless array of crossroads, the result of a handful of years that have held many changes in Weiss’s life. The construct of change, like time itself, is inescapable. It’s how we navigate the change that defines us, it’s what Weiss is pondering with their first album in 7 years, The Long Way.
Over 11 songs, Weiss embraces the spirit of rebirth born of change, the opportunity to sit perfectly still with oneself and enquire to the deepest needs of your spirit. We are so rarely afforded the opportunity of introspection and rarer still equipped to process what information we find, but on The Long Way Weiss deftly manages to channel deep change into exultant arrival.
Weiss has long been a master of pop hooks that weave in and out of meditative lyrics. From the opening strums of “Dust Storm” Weiss builds to the edge of a crescendo and lets us hang there, letting us know we might at any second plummet over but instilling within us a deep trust that when we do, the landing will be worth the fall. “Different Now” is a tender goodbye to a love that has lost its heart, a churning guitar dancing with a driving synth that feels at times like the innumerable headlights of the road out of town are the only thing left in this world.
Steeping themselves in the warm embrace of the hits that once dominated the top 40 radio of their adolescence, Weiss returns to that same musical landscape furnished with an inspirational abundance of accumulated pop rock wisdom to breath new air into an atmosphere some never get to find their way back to. The Long Way is a wealth of storytelling from someone with a new story to tell, “This is my first record after transitioning, after leaving a marriage, after deciding I didn't want to live a conventional life anymore,” says Weiss.
These are songs about losing one’s way, finding it again and the realization that finding the way was never the point of the journey. “Tell Me to Go”, co-written with Lelia Broussard, feels like pure Tom Petty filtered through a prism of Phoebe Bridgers. Guitars are crisp and bright, reverberating throughout songs that will just as easily shatter your heart as it will cause your feet to move like a spirit possessed. “Feels Like Hell”, co-written with Jenny Owen Youngs, a call to action by way of a persistent rhythm leading to a chorus that explodes with reverent energy while Weiss bellows “inside out I’m not myself, call this love it feels like hell”.
The Long Way is a path we find ourselves on that we can only trust where it leads, what matters most if the feeling in the recesses of our hearts while our feet keep the beat moving ever forward. It’s a celebration of the triumph of rebirth, new beginnings, and the thrill of the unknown. We do not always need to know where we might land, trust in John-Allison Weiss that this is all worth the deviation.
TRACK LISTING & LYRICS
The Long Way
Dust Storm
Pulled off the highway in a dust storm
Composed a chorus with my thumbs
Headed home to change the future
Headed home to turn and run
So tired of singing all these old songs
So tired of trying to be someone
Pulled off the highway in a dust storm
Wrote it out and called it done
Rode it out and called it done
Pulled off the highway in a dust storm
I never thought I’d see the day
Been overlooking all those warnings
Bearing down and staying straight
Keeps getting harder in the long run
Keeps getting harder to relate
Pulled off the highway in a dust storm
Write it out and call it safe
Ride it out and call it safe
Pulled off the highway in a dust storm
Composed a chorus with my thumbs
Headed home to change the future
Headed home to turn and run
So tired of singing all these old songs
So tired of pleasing everyone
Pulled off the highway in a dust storm
Rode it out and now it’s done
Wrote it out and now it’s done
Wrote it out and now it’s done
Different Now
There’s a song I’ve been singing for twenty-nine years
Where I spill all my guts to avoid all my tears
I say I don’t mind it, but it’s bringing me down
And I still love you, but it’s different now
There’s a heat of a summer stuck in my bones
So deep in my blood, like it’s all that I know
And I hate the idea of just hanging around
And I still love you, but it’s different now
Goodbye is never not tough
Alright is just never enough
And you cry, but I gotta get out
‘Cause I tried, I love you, but it’s different now
I tried, I love you, but it’s different now
In the still of the morning, you’re still on my mind
When I want you so bad you get harder to find
So I pack up the boxes, let the candles burn out
And I still love you, but it’s different now
Goodbye is never not tough
Alright is just never enough
And you cry, but I gotta get out
‘Cause I tried, I love you, but it’s different now
I tried, I love you, but it’s different now
And it was magic
You were the blood in my veins
It’s so tragic
The way a feeling can fade
And it breaks my heart
that I don’t know why
Goodbye is never not tough
Alright is just never enough
And you cry, but I gotta get out
‘Cause I tried, I love you, but it’s different now
Goodbye (Goodbye)
Is never not tough
Alright (Alright)
Is just never enough
And you cry (You Cry)
But I gotta get out
‘Cause I tried, I love you, but it’s different now
I tried, I love you, but it’s different now
I tried, I love you, but it’s different now
Tell Me to Go
Tell me to go
‘Cause I’m losing faith in my own self control
I’m a lost cause
I’m holding out hope
For a lifeline I already know is gone
I see what’s going on
Last time I fell so fast
I got so messed up
But I can’t relax
Take back the nights I missed
It’s so messed up
But I can’t resist
I overthink and overanalyze
I talk in circles ‘til I choke
Begging, tell me to go
Tell me to go
‘Cause if this were up to me I’d never leave
Like a signal in your smoke I can never read
Stay wrapped up inside my own head
Stay lonely for my own bed
Last time I fell so fast
I got so messed up
But I can’t relax
Take back the bad I did
It’s so messed up
But I can’t resist
I overthink and overanalyze
I talk in circles ‘til I choke
So if you feel me, if you sympathize
Talk me down and take me home
Or tell me to go
(Tell me to go x 13)
Feels Like Hell
You know I miss you when you’re with me
Somehow you’re so far away
You say it’s nothing, but it can’t be
I feel you starting to stray
So baby tell me, are we alright?
Or should I plan an escape?
I always miss you when you’re with me
Is this the start of the break?
I always listen for your heartbeat
In every second you take
You got me wondering about me
Am I the lines in your face?
So baby tell me, are we alright?
Should I be digging a grave?
How can I miss you when you’re with me?
Is this the start of the break?
Inside out
I’m not myself
Call this love,
It feels like hell
Break me down
Like day by day
Feels like hell
I think I’ll stay away
Stay away
Inside out
I’m not myself
Call this love
It feels like hell
I always miss you when you’re with me
(Inside out)
Somehow you’re so far away
(I’m not myself)
How can I miss you when you’re with me?
(Call this love)
Is this the start of the break?
(It feels like hell)
Is this the start of the break?
Miss Me
I wish that you missed me
I wish you were wondering how I’ve been
I wish you were listening
I wish that you missed me now and then
I wish that you missed me
Your picture still pinned up in my dash
The way that you ditched me
Ain’t never seen good times go so fast
And I know you’ve seen better days
Don’t blame you moving on
But you could’ve left a note
Or sent a song
Hey I just wish that you missed me
(Huh, huh, huh-oh)
I wish that you missed me
(Huh, huh, huh-oh)
I wish that you missed me
(Huh, huh, huh-oh)
I wish that you missed me
My memory means well but I’m tired
Of solving your mystery
Of singing these sad songs you inspire
And everyone’s got their own ways
Don’t think I dont got mine
But you could’ve left a note
Or said goodbye
Hey I just wish that you missed me
(Huh, huh, huh-oh)
I wish that you missed me
(Huh, huh, huh-oh)
I wish that you missed me
(Huh, huh, huh-oh)
I wish that you missed me
Sometimes
I get high and I can’t get out
The anxiety gets me down
And I know that it’s no use now
Yeah I just wish that you missed me
And I try but I can’t let go
I’ve been dying to let you know
If you’re hearing me now and you’re listening
Just know that I wish that you missed me
I wish that you missed me
I wish that you missed me
I wish that you missed me
Yeah the way that you kissed me
Under that late night street light glow
I can’t believe you dont miss me
Babe if you’re listening, let me know
Send out a sign that you missed me
Some kinda sign that you missed me
Oh yeah I wish that you missed me
I wish that you missed me
New Day / Old Ghost
That old familiar melody, it brings me home
A song I loved before, but now I barely know
I still remember all the words I used to sing
When I surrender to those woeful memories
To the backyard
To the old car
To the freeway
To the coast
Every new day
wakes an old ghost
That old familiar melody, it leaves me thin
A second chance to try and I am pulled back in
I’m bruised and broken as I’m brought right back to you
My windows open, I am choosing black and blue
To the backyard
To the old car
To the freeway
To the coast
Every new day
wakes an old ghost
And I see you now
Like I did back then
With a love so loud,
Let it bleed back in
To the headlights
To the big fights
To the sundown
To the end
To the shoreline
To the old times
To those lovers
To those friends
To the backyard
To the big stars
To the freeway
To the coast
Every new day wakes an old ghost
Can't Stand
Smoke in the sunrise
Dark in the dawn
Night after long night
The hard lines are drawn
If you won’t choose a side
I know which side you’re on
If you can’t stand for right, man
You just stand for wrong
Blood of my bad blood
Born deep down in me
Bred to be blind
To Black blood on these streets
If you won’t call it out
Don’t you dare call it free
If you can’t stand for right, man
You can’t stand for peace
Centuries broken
Wide open in pain
Your neighbor’s in danger
And your silence to blame
If you won’t call it out
I know which side you take
If you can’t stand for right, man
You just stand for hate
Smoke in the sunrise
Dark in the dawn
Night after long night
The hard lines are drawn
If you won’t choose a side
I know which side you’re on
If you can’t stand for right, man
You just stand for wrong
If you can’t stand for right, man
You just stand for wrong
If you can’t stand for right, man
You just stand for wrong
Lost in the old world
American dream
Pledge your allegiance
Oh say, can’t you see
All the violence that lies
In these secrets we keep
If you can’t stand to change, man
You can’t stand with me
Next Thing I Knew
Next thing I knew
I never heard from you again
Been striking matches in the wind
Since you’ve been gone
I’m getting tired
Of trying to light my lonely fire
I think it’s safe to say
I’m better moving on
Like, oo-oo-oo-oo-oooh
Another day, another song
Like, oo-oo-oo-oo-oooh
I sing along
Next thing I knew
The world was spinning into something
Never could’ve seen it coming
Either way
I’m getting weary,
Clearly I ain’t seeing clearly
Think I’ll settle in
And sing that old refrain
Like, oo-oo-oo-oo-oooh
Another year, another song
Like, oo-oo-oo-oo-oooh
I get along
[Instrumental break]
Next thing I knew
I never heard from you again
I swore you saw me as a friend,
I called it wrong
I stumble through it,
I pretend I do not do it
Let the best of me get lost
In all the gone
Like, oo-oo-oo-oo-oooh
Another day, another song
Like, oo-oo-oo-oo-oooh
I sing along
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Sumdaze
Some days I want you
Some days I need you
Some days I couldn’t care less if I tried
Some days I’m true blue
Some days I’m bad news
Some days I’m basically nothing inside
Some days it’s so hard, baby
I wonder over and over again
Someday I’ll know my way, so when?
Some days get too high
Some days can’t stay dry
Some days I just cannot cry like before
Some days I’m all gone
Some days I’m dead wrong
Some days I just don’t belong anymore
Some days it’s so hard, baby
I wonder over and over again
Someday I’ll know my way, so when?
Someday, so when?
Someday, so when?
Some days I’m all gone
Some days I’m dead wrong
Some days I can’t play along anymore
Some days it’s so heartbreaking
I wander over and over again
Someday I’ll know my way, so when?
Someday, so when?
Someday, so when?
Someday, so when?
Someday, so when?
Someday, so when?
The Long Way
I’ll go the long way, I’ll take my time
And I know someday
I’ll realize
It might take me my whole life
But at least i did it right
I did it right
Some streets are highways
They’ll get you home
The roads that i take
Are overgrown
It might take me my whole life
But at least i did it right
I did it right
All my life, never felt so good
Cut my path through the darkest wood
Found my truth, like i knew i could
In me
All my life, never felt so good
Cut my path through the darkest wood
Found my truth, like i knew i could
In me
I’ll go the long way
I’ll take my time
And I know someday
I realize
It might take me my whole life
But at least I did it right
It might take me my whole life
But I’ll know I did it right
I did it right
Young Love
This morning I saw your face
No warning, and then erased
I’d recognize you anywhere
It’s no surprise you disappeared on me
Your demons, they came and went
Your heavy heart stayed permanent
I reached for you, but you let go
I left you in the undertow
We were young, love
We were young, love
We were young, love
We were young, love
We were young love
Baby, we were young love
We were young love
Baby, we were young love
We were young love
Baby, we were young love
We were young love
Baby, we were young love
We were young, love
Baby, we were young love
We were young, love
Baby, we were young love
We were young, love
We were young, love
Credits
Produced & Engineered by Sombear. Mixed by Andy D. Park. Mastered by Ed Brooks.
Vocals and guitars by John-Allison Weiss. Drums, bass, keys, percussion, additional guitars and backing vocals by Sombear.
All songs written by John-Allison Weiss, except “Different Now” written with Lauren Zettler, “Tell Me to Go” written with Lelia Broussard, “Feels Like Hell” written with Jenny Owen Youngs, and “The Long Way” written with Joanna Katcher.
Album design by Werewolf GF. Cover photo by Jennifer Bierkle, 1996. Back photo by John-Allison Weiss, 2007. Additional photos by Dean Jordan, 2020.
Thank you Jer, Jamie, Koji, Greer, Joey, Lilz, Malblum, Cap, Dean, Zettler, Mak, Nunes, and all the friends and strangers who’ve listened along the way <3