Lately, there’s this song to which I can’t listen enough It’s such a beautiful song, complete with wonderful instrumentation. The voices are used skillfully and filled with emotion. So beautiful is this song, you might be think it’s about love and happiness. But you’d be wrong. It’s not about that at all. It’s about sadness and pain. It’s about tears and cruelty.

It’s about abuse.

The title of the song is “How Come, How Long“,  performed by Babyface, featuring Stevie Wonder.It’s from the 1996 album “The Day“.

Each time I listen to it, I think of my own childhood. Of what I’ve witnessed. Of the tears I’ve seen shed because of a physically abusive man. I found the video on YouTube and I was also able to locate the lyrics. I’ve posted them both below.

Click here to watch the video. Read the words. Pass it on, if you’d like.

How Come, How Long
Performed by Babyface, featuring Stevie Wonder
Composed by Stevie Wonder & Babyface
Produced & Arranged by Babyface
© Copyright 1996 

(Click here to download MP3 of this song for only $0.99 – Click here to download the entire album of great songs.)

There was a girl I used to know
She was oh so beautiful
But she’s not here anymore
She had a college degree
Smart as anyone could be
She had so much to live for
But she fell in love
With the wrong kinda man
He abused her love and treated her so bad
There was not enough education in her world
That could save the life of this little girl

How come, how long
It’s not right, it’s so wrong
Do we let it just go on
Turn our backs and carry on
Wake up, for it’s too late
Right now, we can’t wait
She won’t have a second try
Open up your hearts
As well as your eyes

She tried to give a cry for help
She even blamed things on herself
But no one came to her aid
Nothing was wrong as far as we could tell
That’s what we’d like to tell ourselves
But no, it wasn’t that way
So she fell in love
With the wrong kinda man
And she paid with her life
For loving that man
So we cannot ignore,
We must look for the signs
And maybe next time we might save
somebody’s life

How come, how long
It’s not right, it’s so wrong
Do we let it just go on
Turn our backs and carry on
Wake up, for it’s too late
Right now, we can’t wait
She won’t have a second try
Open up your hearts
As well as your eyes

I on occasion met that guy
It’s been a feeling deep inside
Some … wasn’t right
The way he proves himself a man
By beating his woman with his hands
Oh I wish that she’d seen the light
How can someone like that call himself a man
He’s not a man
Soon reality …
And we cannot ignore
Whenever we see the signs
‘Cause any kind of abuse
God knows, it’s a crime

How come, how long
It’s not right, it’s so wrong
Do we let it just go on
Turn our backs and carry on
Wake up, for it’s too late
Right now, we can’t wait
She won’t have a second try
Open up your hearts
As well as your eyes

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