so long

treeseed commented on the word so long

So Long is an idiomatic expression meaning goodbye

March 12, 2008

Logophile77 commented on the word so long

Comes from Hebrew shalom.

April 19, 2018

qms commented on the word so long

The origins of “so long” are in fact mysterious. It’ suggested origins have been placed in Irish (slán), German (adieu so lange), Hebrew (shalom), Arabic (salaam). Also Malay, Norwegian and Swedish origins have been posited. An early appearance in print was in the poetry of Walt Whitman who reported that it was a common salutation among soldiers and sailors.

See:

https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/so-long-origin

https://www.etymonline.com/word/so%20long

and in many other places.

April 19, 2018

bilby commented on the word so long

I couldn't find the Malay connection in either of those links and nothing really comes to mind. I find the Norwegian / Swedish links reasonably plausible.

Tut-tut to Meriam Webster for not knowing that salam is also used when taking leave.

April 19, 2018

bilby commented on the word so long

So long, it's been good to know ya

So long, it's been good to know ya

So long, it's been good to know ya

What a long time since I've been home

And I've gotta be driftin' along

I've sung this song, but I'll sing it again

Of the people I've met and the places I've seen

Some of the troubles that bothered my mind

And a lot of good people that I've left behind, singing

So long, it's been good to know ya

So long, it's been good to know ya

So long, it's been good to know ya

What a long time since I've been home

And I've gotta be driftin' along

The sweethearts they sat in the dark and they sparked

They hugged and they kissed in that dusty old dark

They sighed and they cried and they hugged and they kissed

But instead of marriage they talked like this: honey

So long, it's been good to know ya

So long, it's been good to know ya

So long, it's been good to know ya

What a long time since I've been home

And I've gotta be driftin' along

I went to your family and asked them for you

They all said take her, oh take please do

She can't cook or so and she won't't scrub your floor

So I put on my coat, tip toed down the door, singing

So long, it's been good to know ya

So long, it's been good to know ya

So long, it's been good to know ya

What a long time since I've been home

And I've gotta be driftin' along

I walked down the street to the grocery store

It was crowded with people both rich and both poor

I asked the man how his butter was sold

He says one pound of butter for two pounds of gold, I said

So long, it's been good to know ya

So long, it's been good to know ya

So long, it's been good to know ya

What a long time since I've been home

And I've gotta be driftin' along

My telephone rang and it jumped off the wall

That was the preacher makin' his call

He said, "we're waiting to tie the knot

You're getting married believe it or not"

The church was jammed and the church was packed

The pews were crowded from the front to the back

A thousand of friends waiting to kiss my new bride

But I was so anxious I rushed her outside, told her

So long, it's been good to know ya

So long, it's been good to know ya

So long, it's been good to know ya

What a long time since I've been home

And I've gotta be driftin' along

- Woody Guthrie

April 19, 2018

qms commented on the word so long

Dammit, bilby, I knew you were going to want more info since I know you speak Bahasa Malayu or its Indonesian cousin. The Malay origin was the first I found but now I cannot locate the specific source I used. I have found other sources that suggest the Arabic “ma’salaam” became the Malay “salang” and that British soldiers and sailors serving in Malaya in the 19th Century brought it home as “so long.”

Now I’m going to be awake all night looking for that damned first google hit.

April 19, 2018

bilby commented on the word so long

Good lad. I'll think of you when so long variations are earworming you at 3am.

April 19, 2018