As track four on the album, So Long came together in the rehearsal room as a true band collaboration. Dragos first brought in the riff, which originally leaned more toward funk rock. After seeing The Black Keys live at Mad Cool, he became inspired by a fuzz-driven tone with slapback delay. Applying that sound completely transformed the track, giving it a modern blues-rock edge, with hints of influence from Rival Sons. Lyrically, the song took much longer to find its voice.

For a long time, the only line Maria had was “and it’s so long since I had the blues.” Wanting to capture the pressure of everyday life, she struggled to shape the rest—especially within the constraints of a riff-led structure. The lyrics finally came together just minutes before recording, evolving into a reflection on balancing the demands of band life with the reality of a 9–5.

The track also marked a shift in the band’s dynamic, with David stepping into a more prominent creative role. During a rehearsal jam, his call for a bass solo became a defining moment in the arrangement, adding a new layer to the song’s energy.

During pre-production, the song continued to evolve. Earlier versions featured a more swung, funk-inspired verse, but the decision to play it straighter heightened the sense of tension—perfectly mirroring the stress and urgency at the heart of the lyrics.