| Long Way Home | |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Steven Curtis Chapman |
| Released: | 2012 |
| Genre: | Contemporary Christian |
| Label: | Sparrow |
| Producer: | Chapman, Phil Naish, Brent Milligan, Geoff Moore |
| Prev Title: | Do Everything |
| Prev Year: | 2011 |
"Long Way Home" is a song performed by contemporary Christian singer-songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman, taken from his 2011 album . Written and composed by Chapman, the song is led by the ukulele and has a "sandy beach flavor" and "laid-back island vibe". It lyrically ponders life on Earth being "just a journey", with the destination being Heaven; it also discusses trials in Chapman's own life. It met with positive critical response, with many critics regarding it as the best song from Re:creation.
In an interview with Deborah Evans Price of The Boot, Chapman described "Long Way Home" as "God just letting me sort of smile with music again".[1] Chapman added that "There was such a heaviness [following the death of his daughter Maria] that music became so deep and so heavy. Then I discovered ukulele and it was like God saying, 'Here play this for a little while and I want you to smile a little bit again with music. I want it to be fun.' You can't frown and play a ukulele. There's just no way. It just makes you smile. I think that's why Hawaiians are all so happy". In a separate interview with Caroline Leak of CCM Magazine, he described it as a "traveling song",[2] elaborating that "We're on this journey and though today feels long, we're going to make it. It may not be a mountain top day, bit it feels appropriate to sing about that. And it feels appropriate to play it on a ukulele".
"Long Way Home" is led by the ukulele,[3] [4] [5] [6] and features a "sandy beach flavor" and "laid-back island vibe". Lyrically, it alludes to Chapman's personal trials as well as earth being a journey on the way to heaven. The lyrics to "Long Way Home" are "gut-wrenching" and "evidence of ever-deepening songwriting and spiritual maturity".
"Long Way Home" received a positive reception from critics, with several regarding the song as among the best songs from Re:creation. Jeremy V. Jones of Christianity Today regarded the song as "the lynchpin of [''Re:creation'']", noting "There's a weighted authenticity when Chapman sings, 'I had no way of knowing just how hard this journey could be / 'Cause the valleys are deeper and the mountains are steeper than I ever would've dreamed / But I know we're gonna make it.' It's fitting that the tune is carried by a ukulele, the instrument that Chapman says restored fun to music". Ed Cardinal of Crosswalk.com praised the song as "evidence of ever-deepening songwriting and spiritual maturity [from Chapman]". John DiBiase of Jesus Freak Hideout described "Long Way Home" as "a fun little ukulele-driven tune". Kevin Davis of New Release Tuesday praised the song as "the highlight of the album [for me]" and described the ukulele playing and Chapman's vocals as "engaging".
"Long Way Home" debuted at No. 41 on the Christian Songs chart for the week of February 4, 2012.[7]
Steven Curtis Chapman has performed "Long Way Home" as part of the Songs & Stories Tour. At a performance in the Calvary Center in Lancaster, Pennsylvania on October 6, 2011, Chapman performed the song sitting on a stool while playing the ukulele.[8]
| Chart | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| Billboard Christian Songs[11] | 15 | |
| Billboard Hot Christian AC[12] | 18 | |
| Billboard Christian AC Indicator[13] | 20 |