Long, Long Way from Home
{{Infobox song
| name = Long, Long Way From Home
| cover = Foreigner - Long-Long Way From Home b-w The Damage Is Done (1977).JPG
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Foreigner
| album = Foreigner
| B-side = The Damage Is Done
| released = November 1977
| recorded = late 1976
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Hard rock
| length = 2:45 (single)
2:53 (album)
| label = Atlantic
| writer = Mick Jones, Lou Gramm, Ian McDonald
| producer = Gary Lyons, John Sinclair
| prev_title = Cold as Ice
| prev_year = 1977
| next_title = Hot Blooded
| next_year = 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.{{cite web|title=Top 10 Underrated Foreigner songs|author=Rivadavia, Eduardo|date=2 May 2013 |url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/underrated-foreigner-songs/|publisher= Ultimate Classic Rock |accessdate=2018-05-02}} 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.{{cite book|title=Juke Box Hero: My Five Decades in Rock 'n' Roll|author=Gramm, Lou|author-link=Lou Gramm|year=2013|publisher=Triumph Books|isbn=9781623682057}} Gramm and Jones have stated that this was the first song they worked on together.{{cite web|title=Mick Jones' 11 Favourite Foreigner Songs|publisher=Louder Sound|work=Classic Rock|date=April 26, 2017|accessdate=2018-05-04|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/mick-jones-11-favourite-foreigner-songs}} The song features a clavinet.
Reception
The single was released in November 1977. It reached number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978.{{cite magazine|title=Hot 100|date=February 18, 1978|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1978-02-18|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=2018-05-02}} It was also a hit in Canada, reaching #22.{{cite web|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.5544a&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.5544a.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.5544a|title=RPM Top Singles - Volume 28, No. 22|website=Library and Archives Canada}}
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.{{cite news|title=Top Single Picks|newspaper=Billboard Magazine|page=72|date=December 3, 1977|accessdate=2020-06-11|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/70s/1977/Billboard%201977-12-03.pdf}} Cash Box said that it "has an uplifting beat, with a sinewy lead vocal by Lou Gramm."{{cite news|title=CashBox Singles Reviews|date=December 3, 1977|page=18|newspaper=Cash Box|accessdate=2021-12-26|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1977/CB-1977-12-03.pdf}} Record World said that Foreigner "ought to have its third straight hit with this powerful, tuneful rocker."{{cite magazine|magazine=Record World|date=December 3, 1977|accessdate=2023-02-15|title=Hits of the Week|page=1|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/77/Record-World-1977-12-03.pdf}}
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.{{cite web|title=The Top 10 Most Underrated Foreigner Songs|author=Dome, Malcolm|publisher=Louder Sound|work=Classic Rock|date=17 June 2016 |accessdate=2022-06-17|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-top-10-deep-foreigner-cuts}} Music author Kent Hartman described the song as an "anthem-like FM favorite."{{cite book|title=Goodnight, L.A.: The Rise and Fall of Classic Rock--The Untold Story from inside the Legendary Recording Studios|author=Hartman, Kent|publisher=Da Capo Press|year=2017|isbn=9780306824388}} 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.{{cite news|title=Foreigner|newspaper=Rolling Stone|url=https://www.superseventies.com/spforeigner.html|accessdate=2022-01-09|date=June 2, 1977|author=Milward, John}} 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.{{cite web|title=Ian McDonald's Top 10 Recordings: Foreigner, King Crimson & Beyond|author=Graff, Gary|accessdate=2022-06-17|publisher=Billboard|date=February 11, 2022|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/ian-mcdonald-foreigner-king-crimson-best-songs-1235030263/}}{{cite web|title=Foreigner's 10 Best Songs: Critic's Picks|author=Graff, Gary|publisher=Billboard|accessdate=2022-06-17|date=October 11, 2017|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/foreigner-songs-best-hits-list-7997542/}}
Co-writer Mick Jones has rated it as one his favorite Foreigner songs.
In popular culture
- The song was featured in the 13th episode of Supernatural's 4th season, and the 2nd episode of its 5th season.{{cite web|title=Long, Long Way From Home|date=12 November 2013 |publisher=TV Fanatic|url=https://www.tvfanatic.com/music/songs/long-long-way-from-home/|accessdate=2022-06-17}}