In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Daddy sits on the front porch swinging
Looking out on a vacant field
Used to be filled with burley t'bacca
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've 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 coming back again
Delia plays that ol' 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 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
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
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, I'm gonna be a star
Now, me and Delia 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 don't 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 don't know when
Long time gone, and it ain't coming back again
I said a long time, long time, long time gone
Well, 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, yeah
Looking out on a vacant field
Used to be filled with burley t'bacca
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've 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 coming back again
Delia plays that ol' 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 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
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
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, I'm gonna be a star
Now, me and Delia 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 don't 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 don't know when
Long time gone, and it ain't coming back again
I said a long time, long time, long time gone
Well, 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, yeah
Lyrics submitted by meggymac31
Long Time Gone Lyrics as written by Darrell Scott
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think it would be improved if "hoed a row" was "rode a ho'", it was written by a bloke anyway, i think thats what he really meant. He's dead dirty you know, just like JJ.