About the song
Kris Kristofferson is a country music icon, known for his outlaw persona and songs that often deal with themes of loneliness, despair, and redemption. One of his most famous songs is “Breakdown (A Long Way from Home)”, a powerful ballad about a man who has lost everything and is struggling to find his way home.
The song begins with the narrator describing a scene of desolation: the clubs are closed, the streets are empty, and there are “a few stranded souls standing cold at the station.” This sets the stage for the narrator’s own breakdown, which he describes in the next verse. He has lost his job, his money, and his car, and he is feeling lost and alone.
The chorus of the song is a simple but powerful plea for help: “I’m broke down, I’m a long way from home, and I need a friend to carry me.” The narrator is at a low point in his life, and he is reaching out for someone to help him get back on his feet.
The song’s third verse offers a glimmer of hope. The narrator meets a woman who offers him a place to stay and some food to eat. This small act of kindness gives him the strength to keep going.
The song ends with the narrator on the road again, but this time he is headed in the right direction. He is still a long way from home, but he is no longer alone. He has found a friend in the woman who helped him, and he has found the strength to keep going.
“Breakdown (A Long Way from Home)” is a moving and powerful song about the human experience. It is a song about loss, loneliness, and hope. It is a song that has resonated with listeners for generations, and it continues to be one of Kristofferson’s most popular songs.
Here are some additional details about the song:
- It was released in 1971 on Kristofferson’s second album, “The Silver Tongued Devil and I”.
- The song was written by Kristofferson and has been covered by many artists, including Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Willie Nelson.
- The song has been used in several films, including “Breakdown” (1997) and “Crazy Heart” (2009).
“Breakdown (A Long Way from Home)” is a classic country song that is sure to touch the hearts of listeners of all ages. It is a song about the human experience, and it is a song that will stay with you long after you hear it.
Video
Lyrics
“Breakdown (A Long Way From Home)”
The clubs are all closed, and the ladies are leavin’
There’s nobody nobody knows on the street
A few stranded souls standin’ cold at the station
And nowhere to go but to bed and to sleepLord would you look at you
Now that you’re here ain’t you
Proud of your peers
And the long way you’ve comeAll alone all the way
On your own, who’s to say
That you’ve, thrown it away for a song
Boy you’ve, sure come a long way from homeSo it’s so long so many so far behind you
Fair-weather friends that you no longer know
You still got the same lonely songs to remind you
Of someone you seemed to be, so long agoLord would you look at you
Now that you’re here ain’t you
Proud of your peers
And the long way you’ve comeAll alone all the way
On your own, who’s to say
That you’ve, thrown it away for a song
Boy you’ve, sure come a long way from home