Politician ’bout to make his speech
Signal for attention, please
Then he shuffled his notes
And wiped his sweating brow
I looked at my friend next to me
And we don’t dare agree
Before this is over
We’ll wish we woulda left right now
‘Cause it sounds like a long song comin’
And it looks like he might throw in a little dancin’, too
Yes, it sounds like a long song comin’
And buddy, listen buddy
We got better things to listen to
Lady from a church bizarre
Was smiling from her head to her feet
All the way down to her feet
That she couldn’t see
She started speeking her piece
I said “Stop, Wait a minute, please
Before you start talkin’
I wish you’d please listen to me.”
‘Cause it sounds like a long song comin’
And though some of the things you say might be true
It still sounds like a long song comin’
And baby, listen lady, I got better things to listen to
Yes, it sounds like a long song comin’
And it looks like you might throw in a little dancin’, too
Yes, it sounds like a long song comin’
And buddy, listen buddy, I got better things to listen to
Say, so it sounds like a long song comin’
And it sounds like some just might be true
Still it sounds like a long song comin’
And buddy, listen buddy, I got better things to listen to
And buddy, listen buddy, we got better things to listen to
Unpacking the Message: A Satirical Take on Empty Rhetoric
“Long Song Comin'” by Bob Seger cleverly takes aim at long-winded speeches and the prevalence of empty talk in public life. Through vivid storytelling and wry humor, Seger paints a scene where both politicians and well-meaning community members dominate the room with speeches that say a lot, but mean little. The narrator’s impatience and honest frustration echo a universal sentiment—sometimes, we just want to cut through the noise and hear something genuine. The repeated refrain, noting how the speech “sounds like a long song comin’,” highlights our collective desire for more substance and less performance, whether in politics, social events, or everyday interactions.
Song Credits
Artist: Bob Seger
Songwriter: Bob Seger
Release Year: 1974
Label: Reprise Records