Daddy sits on a front porch swinging

Looking out on a vacant field

Used to be filled with burley t'bacca

Now he knows it never will

Brothers found work in Indiana

Sisters a nurse at the old folks home

Mama still cooking too much for supper

And me Ive been a long time gone



Chorus:

Been a long time gone

No, I ain't hoed a row since I don't know when

Long time gone

And it ain't coming back again



Deliah plays that ol' church pian'a

Sitting out on her daddys farm

She always thought that we'd be together

Lord I never meant to do her harm

Said she could hear me singin' in the choir

Me, I heard another song

I caught wind and hit the road runnin'

And Lord, I've been a long time gone



Chorus:

Been a long time gone

Lord, I ain't had a prayer since I don't know when

Long time gone

And it ain't comin' back again



(Instrumental)



(Bridge)

Now me, I went to Nashville,

Tryin' to beat the big deal

Playin' down on Broadway

Gettin' there the hard way

Living from a tip jar

Sleeping in my car

Hocking my guitar

Yeah Im gonna be a star



Now, me and Deliah singing every Sunday

Watching the children and the garden grow

We listen to the radio to hear what's cookin

But the music ain't got no soul

Now they sound tired but they don't sound Haggard

They've got money but they don't have Cash

They got Junior but they don't have Hank

I think, I think, I think



The rest is a long time gone

No, I ain't hit the roof since I dont know when

Long time gone

And it ain't coming back

I said a long time gone

No, I ain't honked the horn since I dont know when

Long time gone

And it ain't coming back again



I said a long time, long time, long time gone

Well its been a long time



Long time, long time, long time gone

Oh, it's been a long time gone



Long time, long time, long time gone

Yeah yeah