I Have Waited So Long
Foreigner
The Longing Heart: A Journey Back to Love
Foreigner's song "I Have Waited So Long" is a poignant exploration of longing, patience, and the enduring hope of rekindling a lost love. The lyrics convey a deep sense of yearning and the emotional toll of separation. The protagonist has been waiting and dreaming of reuniting with their beloved, holding onto the hope that the right moment will come. This waiting is not passive; it is filled with dreams and a constant search, reflecting the depth of their feelings and the importance of this relationship in their life.
The repeated lines, "I've counted the days, day after day, since we've been apart," emphasize the passage of time and the persistent nature of their longing. The protagonist's journey is marked by a relentless search, symbolized by phrases like "searching for you everywhere" and "seeking in the dark of night." These metaphors highlight the emotional darkness and the sense of being lost without their loved one. The hope that one day their beloved will "shine a light" suggests a desire for clarity and reunion, a beacon in the darkness of their separation.
The song also touches on the fear of being wrong, of having waited in vain. The plea, "Please don't tell me baby I was wrong," reveals vulnerability and the stakes of their emotional investment. This fear is counterbalanced by the eventual realization, "Now I've found my way, I've found my way right back to your heart," suggesting a hopeful resolution. The song captures the universal experience of longing and the hope that love, no matter how long it takes, will find its way back.