Long, Long Way From Home – Foreigner | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning

Chart Performance: Pop (#20); 1978

Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne

A band of Foreigners created some of the most memorable classic rock music ever. The three Brits/three Americans line-up started out as Trigger, a name that – fortunately – belonged to another band. So London-born guitarist Mick Jones dubbed the motley crew “Foreigner.” Foreigner’s first hit single, Feels Like The First Time, written by Jones, flew to #4 in 1977. For the group’s second smash Jones teamed up with lead singer Lou Gramm from Rochester, NY. Their Cold As Ice cracked its way to #6. Meanwhile, the self-titled album was picking up steam, stealing sales from the singles. Foreigner was hot and the people wanted all the music they could get. Still, singles insured ongoing exposure for the band, and more exposure meant more money, so a third track was released. For Long, Long Way From Home Jones’ fellow Londoner, multi-instrumentalist Ian McDonald, joined Mick and Gramm on the writers’ credit line. Its success helped boost Foreigner to five times platinum status.

This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.

Produced by:

  • Gary Lyons
  • John Sinclair

Lyrics Written by:

  • Mick Jones
  • Lou Gramm
  • Ian McDonald

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Ed Osborne

Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).

Check Out all the Song Meanings of the 70s
Top 100 Songs Of The 1970s

Ed Osborne

Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).