How Long

The lyrics describe a relationship in which one person suspects the other has been unfaithful. The speaker admits to being drunk and “gone,” but recognizes that this does not excuse what happened. Their partner is no longer satisfied with apologies and wants an honest answer. The repeated question “How long has this been going on?” gives the song a tense, unsettled feeling: suspicion has been building, but the truth remains unclear.

“Actin’ so shady” means behaving in a secretive or suspicious way. The partner says they have been “feel­ing it lately,” suggesting an intuition based on recent behavior rather than proof. The question “Was it real or just for show?” asks whether the relationship—or perhaps the speaker’s feelings—was genuine. These phrases show how uncertainty can hurt even before everything is confirmed.

The speaker accepts some blame and insists, “I try,” but this does not resolve the partner’s doubt. It is ambiguous exactly what happened: the lyrics strongly suggest cheating, especially with “creepin’ ’round on me,” but provide no full explanation. The repeated lines may express a demand for answers, while also showing how the conversation is stuck in accusation and apology rather than moving toward trust.