Modest Mouse – Long Distance Drunk

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Hang it up now or never
Hang it up again
(Hang it up now or never)
Hang it up now or never
Hang it up again
Hang it up now or never
Hang it up again

Doesn't seem like anything you're saying or doing or doing
Is making any sense

Long distance drunk
Long distance drunk
Long distance drunk
Oh yeah oh yeah

(8 AM and someone calls you on the telephone)
Long distance drunk
(You want to be by yourself and all alone)
Long distance drunk

Send "Long Distance Drunk" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by PLANES

Track duration: 03:43

"Long Distance Drunk" as written by Isaac Brock

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Long Distance Drunk song meanings
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19 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment:It probably has more meaning than just being a Bukowski story. It struck me as a song about being an alcoholic, to the point where it really starts to have an effect on your life. "Someone calls you on the telephone you want to be by yourself, and all alone," becoming antisocial. Not making any sense with his actions because he's always drunk.
    Flag HiveNodeon September 10, 2012   Link
    • 2 Replies
  • 0
    General Comment:A pat on the back to the people who did a little homework and figured out it was a Bukowski short story. This song just repeats what the story emphasizes, and that is that from the outside, nothing makes sense; no one can ever stay alone. And in the end that is all Bukowski wanted. It isn't about relationships. That's not Bukowski, you faggots; so stand UP and piss for a change. It's about a woman calling him telling him he HAS to stay on the phone because she is paying for the long distance call. That is life. It is all about doing something you don't want do, but because you "owe" the person you feel obligated to stay on the phone. The woman calling is everyone except you. You are you. The phone is obligation. Life sucks like that. So fuck you who say its about relationships. Because no, it really isn't.
    Flag IgnoRamuson January 11, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is very interesting.
    Flag jemmaCon May 13, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is very interesting.
    Flag jemmaCon May 13, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I don't think the person is necessarily depressed. He just wants to be left alone, but some drunken friend who is far away keeps calling him on the phone at 8am, and nothing this drunken friend says makes any sense. At least, that's what I got from it. I would like to read the Charles Bukowski story to see what's in there.
    Flag XORBon January 04, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:lol karma_sutured.

    The way i see it is, a drunk person is repeatedly picking up the phone and putting it down again, deciding whether or not to call a past/present love. He is in a weird depressed state over this love thing, and is not thinking clearly. The alcohol hasn't made him blissfully ignorant, but instead has just intensified his pain, into an almost dreamlike nightmarish delusional state. When someone calls him (maybe even just a telemarketer), he "wakes up" and snaps out of his emotional state, and realized that really what he wants is to be alone. He realizes it would be a bad idea to call the girl while in that state and thus wants to remain a 'long distance drunk'.

    This song really reminds me of the way I felt in a depressing relationship, wracked with the pain of self-esteem issues and being on an emotional low, all on my own, pondering it all. I am diabetic, so getting a low blood sugar level (hypo) during this is not pleasant! It amplifies the depression 100x and causes me to no longer make sense. I become indecisive too. Talking to a real person wakes me up from that 'nightmare', bringing me back to reality.

    The song is about alcohol though. However, being hypo has some similarities with being drunk.

    Btw, the girl singing in the background is really beautiful.
    Flag david123on June 19, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song always reminds me of my late grandmother. She had a big sign next to her phone that read 'Do not use when pissed'. That sign was ignored many, many times.
    Flag karma suturedon October 07, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Seems to be about a drunk who's in it for the long haul.
    Flag EndMurdochon August 05, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:its from Charles Bukowski's book Hot Water Music
    Flag WeartheRobeon June 20, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I find this song rather soothing actually.
    Flag willienelsonon April 23, 2006   Link

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