It’s a Long Way
Credit: words & music by Bill Harley, (c) 2001 Round River Records
Album: Sing Me Your Story
Lyrics:
Bill Harley has long been one of our favorite performers, songwriters, storytellers and human beings! We learned this song around the time of the 2008 Presidential Inauguration, and we’ve been singing it ever since. We were thrilled to have our heroes Kim & Reggie Harris join us on this one, and it gives us chills to hear them weave in "We Shall Overcome" near the end.
I've been thinking 'bout the people who came before
It’s a long long way
Mothers and fathers from a distant shore
It’s a long long way
Some came for freedom some came for land
It’s a long long way
Some came bound and shackled hand in hand
It’s a long long way
(Chorus:)
It’s a long way
with many miles behind us
It’s a long way
with many more to go
It’s a long way
'til tomorrow finds us
It’s a long long way
It’s a long long way
Some came with dreams of power, some came with dreams of gold
It’s a long long way
Some came with whatever their two hands would hold
It’s a long long way
No matter when you got here, no matter how
It’s a long long way
We’re all in the same boat now
It’s a long long way
(Chorus)
If you want to go, you can’t get there all by yourself
It’s a long long way
If you want to go, you got to bring somebody else
It’s a long long way
It’s a long hard road, it’s a long steep climb
It’s a long long way
Reach back your hand, don’t leave anyone behind
It’s a long long way
(Chorus)
When I was a boy, once I heard a man
It’s a long long way
He said he had a dream about the promised land
It’s a long long way
He said I may not get there and neither may you
It’s a long long way
But our children’s children may see it come true
It’s a long long way
(Chorus)
It’s a long long way
Some came for freedom some came for land
It’s a long long way
Some came bound and shackled hand in hand
It’s a long long way
(Chorus:)
It’s a long way
with many miles behind us
It’s a long way
with many more to go
It’s a long way
'til tomorrow finds us
It’s a long long way
It’s a long long way
Some came with dreams of power, some came with dreams of gold
It’s a long long way
Some came with whatever their two hands would hold
It’s a long long way
No matter when you got here, no matter how
It’s a long long way
We’re all in the same boat now
It’s a long long way
(Chorus)
If you want to go, you can’t get there all by yourself
It’s a long long way
If you want to go, you got to bring somebody else
It’s a long long way
It’s a long hard road, it’s a long steep climb
It’s a long long way
Reach back your hand, don’t leave anyone behind
It’s a long long way
(Chorus)
When I was a boy, once I heard a man
It’s a long long way
He said he had a dream about the promised land
It’s a long long way
He said I may not get there and neither may you
It’s a long long way
But our children’s children may see it come true
It’s a long long way
(Chorus)
David Heitler-Klevans: lead vocals, acoustic guitar
Ari, Jason and Jenny Heitler-Klevans: harmony vocals
Kim & Reggie Harris: special guest vocal harmonies and "We Shall Overcome" vocals
Dave Posmontier: keyboards (Rhodes, organ)
Jeff Lee Johnson: electric guitars
Chico Huff: bass
Grant MacAvoy: drums
Mayra Casales: percussion (congas, shaker)
Stan Slotter: trumpet
Jay Davidson: tenor saxophone
Kids’ Chorus: Keilan Barber, Marlee Berger, Sara Blackman, Thomas McKenzie-Smith, Sasha Narine, Becca Neckritz, Sophie Samaha, Alyssa Townsend, Anita Zhu