"Long Way Home" is a song performed by

Contemporary Christian Contemporary history, in English-language historiography, is a subset of modern history that describes the historical period from approximately 1945 to the present. Contemporary history is either a subset of the late modern period, or it is o ...

singer-songwriter

Steven Curtis Chapman Steven Curtis Chapman (born November 21, 1962) is an American contemporary Christian music singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, author, and social activist. Chapman began his career in the late 1980s as a songwriter and performer of conte ...

, taken from his 2011 album '' Re:creation''. Written and composed by Chapman, the song is led by the

ukulele The ukulele ( ; from haw, ukulele , approximately ), also called Uke, is a member of the lute family of instruments of Portuguese origin and popularized in Hawaii. It generally employs four nylon strings. The tone and volume of the instrumen ...

and has a "sandy beach flavor" and "laid-back island vibe". It lyrically ponders life on Earth being "just a journey", with the destination being Heaven; it also discusses trials in Chapman's own life. It met with positive critical response, with many critics regarding it as the best song from ''Re:creation''.

Background and composition

In an interview with Deborah Evans Price of ''The Boot'', Chapman described "Long Way Home" as "God just letting me sort of smile with music again". Chapman added that "There was such a heaviness ollowing the death of his daughter Mariathat music became so deep and so heavy. Then I discovered ukulele and it was like God saying, 'Here play this for a little while and I want you to smile a little bit again with music. I want it to be fun.' You can't frown and play a ukulele. There's just no way. It just makes you smile. I think that's why Hawaiians are all so happy". In a separate interview with Caroline Leak of ''

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'', he described it as a "traveling song", elaborating that "We're on this journey and though today feels long, we're going to make it. It may not be a mountain top day, bit it feels appropriate to sing about that. And it feels appropriate to play it on a ukulele". "Long Way Home" is led by the ukulele, and features a "sandy beach flavor" and "laid-back island vibe". Lyrically, it alludes to Chapman's personal trials as well as earth being a journey on the way to heaven. The lyrics to "Long Way Home" are "gut-wrenching" and "evidence of ever-deepening songwriting and spiritual maturity".

Reception

Critical reception

"Long Way Home" received a positive reception from critics, with several regarding the song as among the best songs from ''Re:creation''. Jeremy V. Jones of ''

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'' regarded the song as "the lynchpin of 'Re:creation'', noting "There's a weighted authenticity when Chapman sings, 'I had no way of knowing just how hard this journey could be / 'Cause the valleys are deeper and the mountains are steeper than I ever would've dreamed / But I know we're gonna make it.' It's fitting that the tune is carried by a ukulele, the instrument that Chapman says restored fun to music". Ed Cardinal of

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praised the song as "evidence of ever-deepening songwriting and spiritual maturity rom Chapman. John DiBiase of Jesus Freak Hideout described "Long Way Home" as "a fun little ukulele-driven tune". Kevin Davis of New Release Tuesday praised the song as "the highlight of the album

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and described the ukulele playing and Chapman's vocals as "engaging".

Chart performance

"Long Way Home" debuted at No. 41 on the

Christian Songs Hot Christian Songs is a music chart published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine in the United States. It ranks the popularity of Christian songs using the same methodology developed for the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, the magazine's flagship songs ...

chart for the week of February 4, 2012.

Live performances

Steven Curtis Chapman has performed "Long Way Home" as part of the Songs & Stories Tour. At a performance in the Calvary Center in

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on October 6, 2011, Chapman performed the song sitting on a stool while playing the ukulele.

Track listing

;Digital Download #"Long Way Home" – 4:08 (Chapman)

Charts

Weekly charts

References

External links

"Long Way Home" lyricsOfficial lyric video
{{authority control 2012 singles Steven Curtis Chapman songs 2011 songs Sparrow Records singles Songs written by Steven Curtis Chapman