‘How Long’ is the debut single by the English band Ace, from their 1974 debut album, Five-A-Side. It reached No. 3 in the US and Canadian charts, and No. 20 on the UK Singles Chart. In a 1981 issue of Smash Hits, Phil Collins named the song as one of his top 10 favourites, describing it as a "classic single".
"How long has this been going on" sure sounds like something a guy would say to his cheating lover, but this song has a very different meaning. Ace bass player Terry Comer was working with other bands - he played briefly with The Sutherland Brothers and Quiver - and he didn't tell his bandmates, who felt cheated when they found out. Ace lead singer Paul Carrack wrote the song; when he appeared on the BBC Breakfast news programme on June 29, 2009 he was asked about the inspiration. Rather than being about a two-timing lover it was, he said, about another band who were "trying to nick our bass player."
‘How Long?’ was one of the first songs he ever wrote and remains one of his biggest hits. It was released on the Anchor label in 1974, backed by ‘Sniffin' About’ and produced by John Anthony for Neptune Productions. It has been recorded many times since. Terry Comer, the bass player a rival band were trying to "nick," returned in time to play on the original recording.
This was Ace's only hit. They broke up in 1977. Paul Carrack was the lead singer of Ace. He went on to sing for Squeeze and Mike And The Mechanics and had a solo hit with "Don't Shed a Tear."
Label – Anchor
Songwriter – Paul Carrack
Producer – John Anthony
SONG LYRICS
[Chorus]How long
Has this been going on?
How long
Has this been going on?
[Verse 1]
Well, your friends with their fancy persuasion
Don't admit that it's part of a scheme
But I can't help but have my suspicion
'Cause I ain't quite as dumb as I seem
And you said you was never intending
To break up our scene in this way
But there ain't any use in pretending
It could happen to us any day
[Chorus]
How long
Has this been going on?
How long
Has this been going on?
[Verse 2]
Oh, your friends with their fancy persuasion
Don't admit that it's part of a scheme
But I can't help but have my suspicion
'Cause I ain't quite as dumb as I seem
Oh, you said you was never intending
To break up our scene in this way
But there ain't any use in pretending
It could happen to us any day
[Outro]
And how long
Has this been going on?
How long
Has this been going on?
How long
How long
Has this been going on?
How long has this
How long
Has this been going on?
How long
And how long
Has this been going on?
How long
Has this been going on?
How long
How long
Has this been going....?