Been Away Too Long – English Lyrics

• By: Soundgarden
• Album: King Animal

Lyrics & Translation

Rediscover Soundgarden's powerful comeback single, "Been Away Too Long," a reflection on their hiatus and a declaration of their enduring relevance in rock. Explore the song's autobiographical roots and its impact on the band's reunion, offering a unique perspective on time, change, and the journey back to the stage.

[English]

(dog barking)

♪ ♪

♪ YOU CAN'T GO HOME NO I SWEAR YOU NEVER CAN ♪

♪ YOU CAN WALK A MILLION MILES AND GET NOWHERE ♪

♪ I GOT NOWHERE TO GO EVER SINCE I CAME BACK ♪

♪ JUST FILLING IN THE LINES FROM THE HOLES TO THE CRACKS ♪

♪ YEAH ♪

♪ NO ONE KNOWS ME NO ONE SAVES ME ♪

♪ NO ONE LOVES OR HATES ME I'VE BEEN AWAY FOR TOO LONG ♪

♪ THIS PLACE HAS A SPECIAL KIND OF FALLING APART ♪

♪ LIKE THEY PUT THE WHOLE THING TOGETHER IN THE DARK ♪

♪ AND NO ONE KNOWS WHERE THE EDGE OF THE KNIFE IS ♪

♪ AND NO ONE KNOWS WHAT INTELLIGENT LIFE IS ♪

♪ NO ONE KNOWS ME NO ONE SAVES ME ♪

♪ NO ONE LOVES OR HATES ME BUT IT'S FATE ♪

♪ I ONLY EVER REALLY WANTED A BREAK ♪

♪ I'VE BEEN AWAY FOR TOO LONG♪

♪ THOUGH I NEVER REALLY WANTED TO STAY ♪

♪ I'VE BEEN AWAY FOR TOO LONG♪

♪ ♪

♪ I'VE BEEN AWAY FOR TOO LONG♪

♪ I'VE BEEN AWAY FOR TOO LONG♪

♪ ♪

♪ KILOS THROUGH KEY-HOLES ♪

♪ WIDOWS THROUGH WINDOWS ♪

♪ PILOTS THROUGH EYELETS ♪

♪ EVERYONE IS SILENT ♪

♪ TANKARDS AND FLAGONS ♪

♪ AND SNIFTERS AND FLUTES ♪

♪ ON MY WAY HOME ♪

♪ BUT IT'S FATE ♪

♪ I ONLY EVER REALLY WANTED A BREAK ♪

♪ I'VE BEEN AWAY FOR TOO LONG♪

♪ THOUGH I NEVER REALLY WANTED TO STAY ♪

♪ I'VE BEEN AWAY BUT IT'S FAT♪

♪ I ONLY EVER REALLY WANTED A BREAK ♪

♪ I'VE BEEN AWAY FOR TOO LONG♪

♪ THOUGH I NEVER REALLY WANTED TO STAY ♪

♪ I'VE BEEN AWAY FOR TOO LONG♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
away /əˈweɪ/ A1	adjective - not present; at a distance
home /hoʊm/ A1	noun - the place where one lives permanently
walk /wɔk/ A1	verb - to move at a regular pace by using one's feet
miles /maɪlz/ A1	noun - a unit of distance equal to 5,280 feet
nowhere /ˈnoʊˌwɛr/ A2	adverb - not in or to any place
cracks /kræks/ A2	noun - a narrow opening resulting from damage or wear
lines /laɪnz/ A1	noun - a long, narrow mark or band
special /ˈspɛʃəl/ A2	adjective - better, greater, or otherwise different from what is usual
falling /ˈfɔlɪŋ/ A2	verb - to move downward, typically rapidly and freely
dark /dɑrk/ A1	adjective - with little or no light
edge /ɛdʒ/ A2	noun - the outside limit of an object, area, or surface
knife /naɪf/ A1	noun - a cutting tool with a sharp blade
intelligent /ɪnˈtɛlɪdʒənt/ B1	adjective - having or showing intelligence
fate /feɪt/ B1	noun - the development of events outside human control
break /breɪk/ A2	noun - a pause or interval in work or activity
silent /ˈsaɪlənt/ A2	adjective - making no sound

Key Grammar Structures

• YOU CAN'T GO HOME NO I SWEAR YOU NEVER CAN

  ➔ Modal Verb (can't) for impossibility

  ➔ The use of "can't" emphasizes a strong impossibility, highlighting the speaker's belief that going home is not an option.

• I GOT NOWHERE TO GO EVER SINCE I CAME BACK

  ➔ Present Perfect (have/has + past participle) for ongoing situation

  ➔ The present perfect "have/has + past participle" is used to describe a situation that started in the past and continues up to the present.

• NO ONE KNOWS ME NO ONE SAVES ME

  ➔ Double negative for emphasis

  ➔ The use of double negatives "no one knows me, no one saves me" adds emphasis to the speaker's feelings of isolation and abandonment.

• I'VE BEEN AWAY FOR TOO LONG

  ➔ Present Perfect Continuous (have/has been + present participle) for duration

  ➔ The present perfect continuous "have/has been + present participle" emphasizes the duration of the action, highlighting how long the speaker has been away.

• THIS PLACE HAS A SPECIAL KIND OF FALLING APART

  ➔ Present Simple (has) for general truth

  ➔ The present simple "has" is used to express a general truth or characteristic about the place, describing its state of falling apart.

• AND NO ONE KNOWS WHAT INTELLIGENT LIFE IS

  ➔ Negative structure with "no one"

  ➔ The negative structure with "no one" emphasizes the lack of knowledge or understanding about intelligent life, adding to the theme of isolation and confusion.

• I ONLY EVER REALLY WANTED A BREAK

  ➔ Adverb placement for emphasis

  ➔ The placement of adverbs like "only", "ever", and "really" emphasizes the speaker's desire for a break, highlighting its importance.

• THOUGH I NEVER REALLY WANTED TO STAY

  ➔ Concession with "though"

  ➔ The use of "though" introduces a contrasting idea, showing that despite not wanting to stay, the speaker has been away for too long.