How Long
Unraveling Love's Deception: Rod Stewart's 'How Long' Explained
Lyrics
How long has this been going on?
Questioning the duration of a situation or relationship.
How long has this been going on?
Repetition of the question, emphasizing uncertainty and curiosity.
Well your friends and their fancy persuasion
Noting the influence of influential friends and their persuasive tactics.
Don't admit that it's part of a scheme,
Highlighting the denial or reluctance to acknowledge the scheme or plan.
But I can't help but have my suspicions
Expressing suspicion despite attempts to deceive; claiming intelligence.
'Cause I ain't quite as dumb as I seem.
Asserting that the speaker is not as naive as others may think.
Well you said you was never intending
Recalling a statement about not intending to disrupt the relationship.
To break up our scene in this way,
Acknowledging the breakup and suggesting it was not planned.
But there ain't any use in pretending
Stating the futility of pretending that such a breakup couldn't occur.
It could happen to us any day,
Highlighting the unpredictability of relationship issues.
How long has this been going on?
Repeating the central question, emphasizing the ongoing nature.
How long has this been going on?
Reiterating the question to emphasize its significance.
How long and how long has this been going on?
Adding emphasis on the duration and repetition of the situation.
How long and how long has this been going on?
Continuing the emphasis on the duration and repetition.
How long baby?
Repeating the question with a term of endearment ("baby").
Oh, your friends and their gentle persuasion
Pointing out the subtle persuasion tactics of friends.
Don't admit that it's part of a scheme,
Reiterating the denial or concealment of a scheme.
But I can't help but have my suspicions,
Repeating suspicions about the situation, suggesting continued doubt.
'Cause I ain't quite as dumb as I seem.
Reaffirming the speaker's intelligence and skepticism.
Well you said you was never intending
Recalling a statement about not intending to disrupt the relationship.
To break up our scene in this way,
Acknowledging the breakup and claiming it was not planned.
But there ain't any use in pretending
Stating the futility of pretending that such a breakup couldn't occur.
It could happen to us any day,
Highlighting the unpredictability of relationship issues.
Tell me honey
Posing the central question with a term of endearment ("honey").
How long has this been going on?
Repeating the question to emphasize its ongoing nature.
How long has this been going on?
Reiterating the question, emphasizing the prolonged situation.
How long and how long has this been going on,
Emphasizing the extended duration of the situation.
Going on, going on?
Repeating and extending the emphasis on the duration.
How long has this been going on?
Repeating the question to underscore its importance.
How long has this been going on,
Continuing the repetition, reinforcing the central theme.
Going on, going on, going on?
Further extending the repetition for emphasis.
How long, honey, oh, has this been going on?
Persistently questioning the duration with a term of endearment ("honey").
How long has this been going on?
Repeating the question, emphasizing its ongoing nature.
How long has this been going on, going on, going on, going on?
Continuing the repetition, intensifying the emphasis.
How long has this been going on, going on, going on?
Repeating the question and extending the emphasis further.
You been treated me mad you been treated me bad
Stating mistreatment in the relationship and its continuation.
And it's been going on, going on, going on
Repeating the ongoing nature of mistreatment.
I ain't quite as dumb as I seem.
Reasserting intelligence and awareness despite appearances.
I ain't quite the fool you mean
Rejecting the portrayal of foolishness; emphasizing awareness.
But it's been going on, going on, going on, going on.
Repeating the ongoing nature of mistreatment and its impact.
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