Lyrics:Long Way Back From Home [Version (a)]:
[From May 1 2004 version]
???
She's a long way to go
She's a long way back from home
She's a long way back from home
Come a long way back from home
See her comin' back from home
She's a long way around
See her comin' home
She's a long way from home
Comin' a long way back from home
Comin' a long way back from home
Comin' a long way back from home
Comin' a long way back from home
The Song:This was a song Beck played live one time, in 2004. It was built over a percussion beat borrowed from Serge Gainsbourg's "Requiem Pour Un Con," as Beck played his electric guitar. Beck then improvised some lyrics over it all, and voila. Insta-song.
The beat did then show up a year later on
Guero, as it sort of developed into the backbone of "
Black Tambourine."
It also seems to be related to "Landslide" on
The Information, which has a similar beat as well. Whether they all originated from this quick little improvisation, or if he was already developing the beat when he showed up for his surprise Coachella appearance, I don't know.