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THE LONG WAY

NOW AVAILABLE!

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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

Credits
LongwayLyrics

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 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 

We were young, love 

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