This, That, and the Other

Earlier today, I posted my response to this week’s Song Lyric Sunday prompt, which was the word “pretending.” But when I saw that my blogging friend, Jim, used the same song as I did, “The Pretender” by Jackson Brown, I wondered if there might be another song I could use.

Then, as I was waking my dog and listening to iTunes on my iPhone, I heard this song:

“How Long” is a 1974 song by the British group Ace from their album Five-A-Side. It reached No. 3 in the US.

I always assumed this song was about a secret affair, but it was actually written by lead singer Paul Carack when he found out that Ace bassist Terry Comer was secretly working with two other bands at the same time he was playing for Ace. When he wrote this song, Carack felt betrayed by Comer. Interestingly, Comer returned to the band in time to play on the recording of the song..

Here are the song’s lyrics.

How long has this been going on?
How long has this been going on?

Well, if friends with their fancy persuasion
Don’t admit that it’s part of a scheme
But I can’t help but have my suspicions
‘Cause I ain’t quite as dumb as I seem

And you said you was never intending
To break up our scene this way
But there ain’t any use in pretending
It could happen to us any day

How long has this been going on?
How long has this been going on?

Oh, your friends with their fancy persuasion
Don’t admit that it’s part of a scheme
But I can’t help but have my suspicions
‘Cause I ain’t quite as dumb as I seem

Oh, you said you was never intending
To break up our scene this way
But there ain’t any use in pretending
It could happen to us any day

And how long has this been going on?
How long has this been going on?
(How long?)
How long has this been going on?
(How long has this?)

How long has this been going on?
(How long?)
How long has this been going on?