How Long

ⓘ This lostwave is classified as solved.
How Long
HLWIT teddy
Alternative name(s)	HL, How Long Will It Take, HLWT, Dollhouse, Relief
Year	2005
Status	Solved; Full version available
Original poster	alexxx1984
Search duration	2007 - 2023
File:HowLong.mp3

How Long (formerly known as How Long Will It Take or HLWIT) is a solved lostwave that appeared on various Russian bootleg movie DVDs in the mid-2000s.

Timeline

A 30-second snippet of How Long was uploaded to a Ukrainian forum on August 30, 2007, by user Nega, but was met with limited attraction. It was also posted onto AllTheLyrics.com in November of that same year by Kieron.

In August 2010, user alexxx1984 uploaded two snippets of How Long to WatZatSong, claiming it to be from a bootleg DVD of "Jacquou le Croquant". He uploaded the same snippet again in October 2020, gaining more attention the second time around.

On October 9, 2023, ShaiiValley uploaded a YouTube video about the song, sparking a new wave of interest.

Shortly after, the song was discovered on another DVD bootleg, called “МУЛЬТИПАРАД 4” including a bootleg that included all three Shrek films, "Surf's Up," "Happy Feet," "Meet The Robinsons," "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2007,)" and "Thru The Moebius Strip." It was later found on another menu of the same DVD, with entries for "The Simpsons Movie," "Ratatouille," and "Aqua Teen Hunger Force."

Discovery

"How Long Will It Take" was found on December 8, 2023, by Reddit user u/the-arabara through the SOCAN archives, a Canadian music licensing company. It was identified as How Long by Paula Toledo.

On December 9, 2023, Paula Toledo herself uploaded an emotional YouTube video after discovering the search. She was interviewed by CBC Vancouver on December 22, 2023.

Lyrics

Didn't work out the way I thought

I must have mistaken myself

For someone I was not (oh, no)

So I pushed myself to see how far I could go

Didn't need to look that far

To learn what I needed to know

Didn't want to be a quitter

But I had to find my way

How long? (How long)

Will it take, oh-oh

How long? (How long)

Will it take me to feel?

How long? (How long)

Will it take, oh-oh

How long until it's the way I thought it would be?

When I won't aim to please

And you watched me draw the line

Never to be cast again

In the same light (oh, no)

And I don't blame you, they were choices I made

Didn't want to let you down

But I can't play it that safe

In your mind am I a sinner?

Looking for relief?

How long? (How long)

Will it take, oh-oh

How long? (How long)

Will it take me to feel?

How long? (How long)

Will it take, oh-oh

How long until it's the way I thought it would be?

When I won't aim to please

When I won't aim to please

When I won't aim to please

No, I won't be a doll in your pretty dollhouse

No, I won't be the plaything that you can toss around

No, I won't be the child who lives for acceptance

No, I won't any longer live in my reflection

How long?

Will it take, oh-oh

How long?

Will it take me to feel?

How long?

Will it take, oh-oh

How long?

Will it take me to feel?

How long? (How long)

Will it take, oh-oh

How long? (How long)

Will it take me to feel?

How long? (How long)

Will it take, oh-oh

How long until it's the way I thought it would be?

When I won't aim to please

When I won't aim to please

When I won't aim to please

References

q's upload

Paula Toledo's response video

ShaiiValley Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsBoJkaLzkI Footage of the МУЛЬТИПАРАД 4 bootleg