Lyrically, "Long Way to Go" is about prejudices against dating someone from a different race. The line, "When snow hits the asphalt / Cold looks and bad talk come" is used as a metaphor for the nasty comments people receive when dating someone of the opposite race. "Long Way to Go" also includes a sample from Martin Luther King, Jr.s 1963 "I Have a Dream" speech. "Long Way to Go" was written by Stefani and 3000 and was also produced by 3000.