How Long Has This Been Going On?

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of someone who, from a very young age, developed a deep aversion to physical affection, specifically kissing. This aversion is described with stark, almost violent imagery: "an inferno worse than Dante's." The narrator then recounts a vow made in childhood to "never, never more" engage in kissing, believing it was a necessary exclusion from life. This early, absolute stance is later revealed to be a profound misjudgment, a "blind" perspective that led to missing out on significant joy. The central tension arises from the stark contrast between the narrator's past revulsion and their present overwhelming delight in kissing. The repeated question, "How long has this been going on?" underscores a sense of bewildered astonishment at this newfound pleasure. It's not just a mild enjoyment; the lyrics suggest a transformative experience, comparing it to Columbus finding "another world" and feeling "Heaven I'm hurled!" This signifies a complete paradigm shift, a realization of a vast emotional and sensory landscape previously unknown. The craft of the lyrics hinges on this dramatic reversal and the vivid language used to describe both states. The initial "hell" of childhood kisses is juxtaposed with the present "chills up my spine," "thrills I can't define," and the feeling of being so captivated that the narrator wishes not to be woken from the "dream" of this "divine rendezvous." The progression from "kiss me once" to "thrice, let's make it four!" in the final chorus shows a playful, almost insatiable embrace of the very thing once so vehemently rejected. This intense emotional arc makes the lyrics resonate. The journey from a deeply ingrained, almost traumatic, avoidance of intimacy to an ecstatic embrace of it highlights the power of unexpected discovery. The narrator's self-deprecation as a "dunce" before finding this joy, and the sheer wonder at how long this pleasure has been available but unfelt, creates a potent mix of regret and exhilaration that captures the essence of a life-altering revelation.