My parents raised me tenderly,
I was their only son.
My mind got mixed with ramblin’
When I was all so young,
And I left my home the first time
When I was twelve and one.
I’m a long time a-comin’, Maw,
An’ I’ll be a long time gone.
On the western side of Texas,
On the Texas plains,
I tried to find a job o’work
But they said I’s young of age.
My eyes they burned when I heard,
“Go home where you belong!”
I’m a long time a-comin’,
An’ I’ll be a long time gone.
I remember when I’s ramblin’
Around with the carnival trains,
Different towns, different people,
Somehow they’re all the same.
I remember children’s faces best,
I remember travelin’ on.
I’m a long time a-comin’,
I’ll be a long time gone.
I once loved a fair young maid
An’ I ain’t too big to tell,
If she broke my heart a single time,
She broke it ten or twelve.
I walked and talked all by myself,
I did not tell no one.
I’m a long time a-comin’, babe,
An’ I’ll be a long time gone.
Many times by the highwayside,
I tried to flag a ride.
With bloodshot eyes and gritting teeth,
I’d watch the cars roll by.
The empty air hung in my head
I’s thinkin’ all day long.
I’m a long time a-comin’,
An’ I’ll be a long time gone.
You might see me on your crossroads
When I’m a-passin’ through.
Remember me how you wished to
As I’m a-driftin’ from your view.
I ain’t got the time to think about it,
I got too much to get done.
Well, I’m a long time comin’
An’ I’ll be a long time gone.
If I can’t help somebody
With a word or song,
If I can’t show somebody
They are travelin’ wrong.
But I know I ain’t no prophet
An’ I ain’t no prophet’s son.
I’m just a long time a-comin’
An’ I’ll be a long time gone.
So you can have your beauty,
It’s skin deep and it only lies.
And you can have your youth,
It’ll rot before your eyes.
Just give to me my gravestone
With it clearly carved upon:
“I’s a long time a-comin’,
An’ I’ll be a long time gone.”
–Bob Dylan
I actually took the Long Time Gone moniker almost 20 years ago when I played in the CompuServe chat rooms. It was inspired by the Crosby, Stills, & Nash song of the same name…“it’s been a long time comin’, it’s gonna be a long time gone…”. Just wanted to be clear that I have no association with the Dixie Bitches song. But having found this Dylan tune by chance, I must say it is a good fit and henceforth it will be the “official song” of LTG.
Just so you know.
Hmm… sweet!
Hey, I like the Dixie Chicks.
I’m sorry Renee. Not about the music, just have no respect for anyone who goes around the world trashing their country in a time of war.
Hey the Dixie Chicks are awesome! They didn’t go around the world trashing the country. All they did was express their opinion that the reasons America was entering the war were not justified. I think thats covered under freedom of speech. And judging from recent alligations of documents being falseified and President Bush misleading the country about WMD maybe they weren’t so wrong. You should give them another chance!:grin:
you dis the dixie chicks for excercising their constitutional rights … you should be banned from listening to music … especially rock and roll …… if you ever even hear bob dylan you should hang your head in shame …
Well Robert it is always nice to see a new comment on an eight year old post. Thanks for stopping by!
It’s interesting though that you are offended by my passing dig at the Dixie Bitches. Yes, they have a right to say whatever the fuck they want. And I have an equal right to criticize them for it. And you, the defender of free speech, think I should be banned from listening to music because I took a contrary view? I reckon that makes you a fascist.
Hey, come on back any time though, I don’t discriminate.