[Intro – warm crunchy guitar, melodic bass, relaxed driving drums] [Verse 1 – mellow melodic female punk vocal] Could've turned left at the corner, been home twenty minutes ago, Instead I kept on walking down a street I barely know. Headphones on, hands in pockets, nothing waiting on my phone, No particular destination. That's reason enough to go. Corner shop is closing, guy is dragging signs inside, Bus goes past with three people staring blankly through the night. I don't know where they're going. They don't know where I've been. For once I don't need anything from anyone I see. [Chorus – warm melodic punk vocal] I'M TAKING THE LONG WAY HOME! NO REASON, NOWHERE ELSE TO GO! COULD'VE BEEN THERE HALF AN HOUR AGO— DON'T REALLY CARE. I'M TAKING THE LONG WAY HOME! ONE MORE STREET I'VE NEVER KNOWN! NOT RUNNING FROM A FUCKING THING— I'M JUST NOT READY TO GO HOME. [Instrumental – melodic guitar hook] [Verse 2 – relaxed rhythmic vocal] There's a pub still half-full, warm light spilling through the glass, Someone laughing by the doorway as a taxi rolls past. Woman walking an old greyhound, kid still cycling way too late, Somebody's cooking something good behind a little garden gate. Every window is a story I'll forget before I sleep, Tiny lives behind the curtains that were never mine to keep. Usually I'd rush straight past them, thinking where I need to be. Tonight I've got nowhere important. Feels pretty fucking good to me. [Chorus – fuller] I'M TAKING THE LONG WAY HOME! NO REASON, NOWHERE ELSE TO GO! COULD'VE BEEN THERE HALF AN HOUR AGO— DON'T REALLY CARE. I'M TAKING THE LONG WAY HOME! LET THE STREETLIGHTS LEAD ME ON! NOT TRYING TO FIND MYSELF TONIGHT— JUST TAKING THE LONG WAY HOME. [Instrumental Break – warm melodic guitar lead, prominent bass] [Bridge – intimate fully sung vocal] No revelation. No lesson learned. No sudden moment where the whole world turns. Tomorrow I'll wake up, do the usual shit. Tonight I'm just walking. That's all this is. And maybe that's enough. [Drums gradually build] [Verse 3 – slightly more energetic melodic vocal] Take another unfamiliar turn, find a park I've never seen, Empty benches, wet pavement, vending machine glowing green. Check the time. It's getting late. Probably should head back soon. Clouds are moving past the rooftops, half-covering the moon. So I finally pick a street that points roughly where I live, Still take two unnecessary corners just because I fucking can. Keys already in my pocket. Front door somewhere up ahead. Not avoiding going home. Just enjoying getting there. [Final Chorus – large warm punk vocal] I'M TAKING THE LONG WAY HOME! NO REASON, NOWHERE ELSE TO GO! COULD'VE BEEN THERE AN HOUR AGO— STILL DON'T CARE. I'M TAKING THE LONG WAY HOME! ONE LAST STREET BEFORE I'M DONE! NOT EVERY NIGHT NEEDS SOMETHING MORE— SOMETIMES WALKING IS ENOUGH. [Final melodic guitar riff] [Outro – soft melodic female vocal] Front door. Shoes off. Headphones down. Good night.
