Long, Long Way from Home

1977 single by Foreigner

"Long, Long Way From Home"

Single by Foreigner

from the album Foreigner

B-side

"The Damage Is Done"

Released

November 1977

Recorded

late 1976

Genre

Hard rock

Length

2:45 (single)
2:53 (album)

Label

Atlantic

Songwriter(s)

Mick Jones, Lou Gramm, Ian McDonald

Producer(s)

Gary Lyons, John Sinclair

Foreigner singles chronology

"Cold as Ice"
(1977)

"Long, Long Way From Home"
(1977)

"Hot Blooded"
(1978)

"Long, Long Way from Home" is a song written by Mick Jones, Lou Gramm & Ian McDonald that was initially released on Foreigner's debut album. It was the third single taken from the album.

Lyrics and music

The lyrics refer to a person leaving a small town to try to succeed in New York City ("I left a small town for the apple in decay") and the loneliness he feels there.^[1] According to Gramm, the lyrics are autobiographical, reflecting his experience moving to New York City from his hometown of Gates, New York, outside of Rochester.^[1]^[2]^[3] Gramm and Jones have stated that this was the first song they worked on together.^[2]^[3] The song features a clavinet.

Reception

The single was released in November 1977. It reached number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978.^[4]^[2] It was also a hit in Canada, reaching #22.

Billboard described "Long, Long Way from Home" as a "sparkling rocker" with "urgent and soulful" vocals and a "hard driving hypnotic rhythm" propelled by the guitars and bass.^[5] Cash Box said that it "has an uplifting beat, with a sinewy lead vocal by Lou Gramm."^[6] Record World said that Foreigner "ought to have its third straight hit with this powerful, tuneful rocker."^[7]

Ultimate Classic Rock critic Eduardo Rivadavia rated it as Foreigner's 2nd most underrated song, while Classic Rock critic Malcolm Dome rated it their 4th most underrated song.^[1]^[8] Music author Kent Hartman described the song as an "anthem-like FM favorite."^[9] Rolling Stone critic John Milward rated it as the best song on Foreigner, comparing Gramm's vocal delivery to Paul Rodgers of Bad Company, and saying that the synthesizer and saxophone give it a bit of Roxy Music's sophistication.^[10] Billboard critic Gary Graff rated "Long, Long Way from Home" as one of McDonald's 10 best recorded saxophone performances, and as Foreigner's 2nd greatest song based in part on the strength of McDonald's performance.^[11]^[12]

Co-writer Mick Jones has rated it as one his favorite Foreigner songs.^[3]^[11]

In popular culture

The song was featured in the 13th episode of Supernatural's 4th season, and the 2nd episode of its 5th season.^[13]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Rivadavia, Eduardo (2 May 2013). "Top 10 Underrated Foreigner songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 2018-05-02.
^ ^a ^b ^c Gramm, Lou (2013). Juke Box Hero: My Five Decades in Rock 'n' Roll. Triumph Books. ISBN 9781623682057.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Mick Jones' 11 Favourite Foreigner Songs". Classic Rock. Louder Sound. April 26, 2017. Retrieved 2018-05-04.
^ "Hot 100". Billboard. February 18, 1978. Retrieved 2018-05-02.
^ "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard Magazine. December 3, 1977. p. 72. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
^ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. December 3, 1977. p. 18. Retrieved 2021-12-26.
^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. December 3, 1977. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
^ Dome, Malcolm (17 June 2016). "The Top 10 Most Underrated Foreigner Songs". Classic Rock. Louder Sound. Retrieved 2022-06-17.
^ Hartman, Kent (2017). Goodnight, L.A.: The Rise and Fall of Classic Rock--The Untold Story from inside the Legendary Recording Studios. Da Capo Press. ISBN 9780306824388.
^ Milward, John (June 2, 1977). "Foreigner". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2022-01-09.
^ ^a ^b Graff, Gary (February 11, 2022). "Ian McDonald's Top 10 Recordings: Foreigner, King Crimson & Beyond". Billboard. Retrieved 2022-06-17.
^ Graff, Gary (October 11, 2017). "Foreigner's 10 Best Songs: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Retrieved 2022-06-17.
^ "Long, Long Way From Home". TV Fanatic. 12 November 2013. Retrieved 2022-06-17.