Long Way To Go – Alan Jackson

Introduction:

“Long Way to Go” by Alan Jackson was released in June 2011 as the lead single from his album Thirty Miles West. It marked Jackson’s debut with EMI Records Nashville, after departing from his long-time label Arista Nashville. The song showcases Jackson’s signature blend of humor and traditional country sounds, revolving around a light-hearted narrative about bad luck, relationships, and a humorous mishap with a margarita.

The song was first performed live at the Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in front of nearly 100,000 fans. The live debut created buzz leading up to its digital release on platforms like iTunes. The song is known for its catchy chorus and playful lyrics, with the protagonist lamenting his struggles, including finding a bug in his drink, all while trying to get over a woman.

“Long Way to Go” demonstrated Jackson’s staying power in the country music scene and was well-received by both critics and fans. It highlighted his ability to mix humor with heartache, a characteristic that has defined much of his catalog over his long career. The song helped set the tone for the rest of Thirty Miles West, which continued Jackson’s tradition of storytelling grounded in relatable life experiences.

Video:

Lyrics:

“Long Way To Go”

Well I drove down to the ocean
Left my heartache way behind
But the rain won’t leave and the pain won’t ease
And the sun don’t wanna shineSo I ordered me up a killer
Found a view out across the sea
I sat down in the sand
A drink in my hand
And in the glass looking back at me

I got a bug in my margarita
Seems bad luck won’t leave me alone
I got a woman I’m tryin’ to drink away
And I got a long, long way to go
Yeah, I got a long, long way to go

Well I met an old boy from Georgia
Yeah, his woman done knocked him down
I asked him how’s he doing
He stared at me confused
And said, “Hey, ain’t you looked around?”

He said the rain won’t leave
And the pain won’t ease
And the sun don’t wanna shine
And there’s something in the bottom of this drink I just got
And it don’t look like a worm to me

I got a bug in my margarita
Seems bad luck won’t leave me alone
I got a woman I’m tryin’ to drink away
And I got a long, long way to go
Yeah, I got a long, long way to go

So we put our drinks together
And toasted rainy weather
And the women that had done us wrong
Then we threw back margaritas
The bug just made it sweeter
And we both sang a happy song

I got a bug in my margarita
Seems bad luck won’t leave me alone
I got a woman I’m tryin’ to drink away
And I got a long, long way to go

Yeah, I got a bug in my margarita
Seems bad luck won’t leave me alone
I got a woman I’m tryin’ to drink away
And I got a long, long way to go

Yeah, I got a bug in my margarita
Seems bad luck won’t leave me alone
I got a woman I’m tryin’ to drink away
And I got a long, long way to go
Yeah, I got a long, long way to go