“Long Way Home” is a philosophically rich song written by Ric Albano in 2007. It deals with faith, death and afterlife and was inspired by a dying friend who faced her imminent demise with incredible poise and grace. Since then, this has become sort of an ode in remembrance to those who have passed on.
A fully produced version of the song was recorded for the 2009 album Imaginary Lines 33. However, the version which appears on The Journey reverts back to the original 2007 demo, with all but Ron Simasek’s drums recorded outside a professional studio. The result makes this the most low-fi and, in many ways, most authentic track on the album.
Song Details
Track #5 on the 2017 album The Journey
Composed by Ric Albano in December 2007
Recorded Saturation Acres & Cygnus Wave Studios in 2007
Produced by Ric Albano
Ric Albano – vocals, piano, keyboards, bass
Ron Simasek – drums
Listen to the Song:
Lyrics
Lost in the wilderness, the forest through the trees
All merge to emptiness as I am brought down to my knees
I pause for just a sec to let the world spin round
To reveal some open trek
Leading to tame, tended ground
But I’m still alive – yes, I’m still alive
Shrouded in bitterness,
I’ll crawl out of this wilderness and try
Counter, diverging paths, I’m forced to make a choice
Contend this demon’s wrath or let it silence my voice
No doubt I’ve done my slice to bring this on myself
But that pittance won’t justify
This rapid draining of health
But I’m still alive – But will I survive?
Biased towards happiness,
I’ll carve my creed in righteousness and pray…
Exoneration for squandering
The precious dawn of the Day…
That priceless jewel confined by it’s peripheral fuel
Any day can come the call to raze the walls
And suddenly be shown all that’s beyond
Knowing all that is gone,
Blown, pried from it’s bond
On the way home
Who leaves familiar farms, swan dives into the sea
Of vast transcendent charms, of vast uncertainty?
He who keeps it alive – the dream that survives
Drafted towards openness
Can almost feel the sweet caress of the sky…
That boundless cool, clad baby blue
Never seeming too hard to fly…
With wounded wings, ever sharpening
Will tomorrow bring just one more try?
To feel the pulse, to forge the ghosts,
To make the most, to show just what can be
And know what it is like to be free
And grow into the predestined me
And flow in distinguished harmony
All the way home
© 2007-2017 Ric Albano and Cygnus Wave Records
