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's 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

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

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

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 garden and the children grow

We 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 honked the horn 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

Well a long time, long time, long time gone

Lord, it's been a long time

Long time, long time, long time gone

Lord, it's been a long... time... gone

Long time, long time, long time gone