Long Time Gone

Daddy sits on the front porch swingin'
Looking out on a vacant field
Used to be filled with burley tobacco
Now he knows it never will
My brother found work in Indiana
Sister's a nurse at the old folks' home
Mama's still cooking too much for supper
(And me, I been a long time gone)

(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 comin' back again

Delia plays that old church piano
Sittin' out on her daddy's farm
She always thought that we'd be together
Lord, (I never meant to do her harm)
Said she could hear me singing in the choir
Me I heard another song
I caught wind and hit the road runnin'
(And Lord I been a long time gone)

(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

Now me, I went to Nashville
Trying to be the big deal
Playing down on Broadway
Getting there the hard way

Living from a tip jar
Sleeping in my car
Hocking my guitar
Yeah I'm gonna be a star

Now me and Deliah
Singing every Sunday
Watching the children and the garden grow
Listen to the radio to hear what's cooking
But the music ain't got no soul

Now they sound tired but they don't sound Haggard
They 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 don't know when
(Long time gone)
And it ain't coming back

(I said a long time gone)
No I ain't honked a horn since I don't know when
(Long time gone)
And it ain't coming back again

(I said a long time, long time, long time gone)

Whoa, it's 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)