Led by Shirley, the original group which came to the attention of Atlantic president Rick Blackburn, consisted of guitarist Michael Lamb, Gates Nichols on pedal steel, keyboard player Chris McDaniel, Wayne Secrest on bass and Mark DuFresne on drums. Lamb left the group in 1995 and was replaced by Jimmy Dormire.
Despite Confederate Railroad's outward appearance as a tougher-than-leather Southern rock band, it was a reflective ballad which spoke of two old reliable loves which vaulted the group into stardom. "Jesus and Mama" entered the country chart during the warm months of 1992, and hit the Top Five that autumn.
Long Gone
Confederate Railroad Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He had a teary little woman hangin' on to him
Sayin' "promise me Billy, you'll call me when you reach LA"
He said "I'm keepin your number honey, right up here"
He was tappin on his temple but the point was clear
He had no intention of ever comin back, no way
He was long gone
Long, Long gone
Skippin like a stone
He packed up his heart
And he was long gone
Two packs of peanuts and a Canada Dry
Had him thinkin' what a luxury is was to fly
It was the best way out of a love that wasn't meant to last
Repeat Chorus
Two years later on a TV show
He saw a teary little woman that he used to know
Sayin' "Lord yes Oprah, He left me back in Abilene"
She flashed his picture for the world to see
Said "if anybody knows this lousy S.O.B."
Tell him Junior's hungry ain't nothin in this world that's free
Repeat Chorus
The song "Long Gone" by Confederate Railroad narrates the story of a man named Billy who was leaving Abilene for LA, leaving his girlfriend behind. At the airport on an early morning, his teary girlfriend was holding onto him, asking him to call her when he reached LA. Billy promised to keep her number in mind and tapped his temple to make it clear that he would never come back. The chorus is repetitive and emphasizes that he is long gone, skipping like a stone, and packed up his heart. He was leaving behind everything that he had once held important.
As Billy took off, he looked back at two packs of peanuts and a Canada Dry, realizing that flying was a luxury that he could only afford to escape the love that wasn't meant to last. Two years later, Billy appeared on TV, where he saw his former girlfriend revealing to the world that he had left her back in Abilene. She showed his picture and pleaded with anyone who knew him to tell him Junior was hungry, and nothing in the world came for free.
The song tells the story of a man who had made up his mind about leaving, not looking back or showing any remorse. However, this decision had significant consequences as he missed out on the opportunity of a lifetime as revealed on the TV show. The chorus emphasizes that his heart was packed and he was long gone, implying that he had let go of everything that held him back.
Line by Line Meaning
Abilene airport 6 am
The story starts at the Abilene airport, early in the morning at 6 am.
He had a teary little woman hangin' on to him
The man had a woman crying and holding onto him with sadness.
Sayin' "promise me Billy, you'll call me when you reach LA"
She asks him to promise that he would call her after he reaches LA.
He said "I'm keepin your number honey, right up here"
The man tells the woman that he is keeping her number in his mind.
He was tappin' on his temple but the point was clear
He indicated that he will remember her number by tapping his head, but the real intention was different.
He had no intention of ever comin' back, no way
The man had no plans to return, now or ever in the future.
He was long gone
He had left and was not coming back.
Long, Long gone
He had already gone far away and wasn't coming back anytime.
Skippin' like a stone
He was moving away quickly and effortlessly, just like a stone that skips on the water surface.
He packed up his heart
He stored away his true feelings and emotions before leaving.
And he was long gone
He was gone very far by now and wasn't looking back at all.
Two packs of peanuts and a Canada Dry
He had two packs of peanuts and a can of Canada Dry soda with him for the flight.
Had him thinkin' what a luxury is was to fly
He felt grateful and blessed to have the luxury of flying instead of traveling by road or other means.
It was the best way out of a love that wasn't meant to last
The flight was his escape mechanism to leave behind a short-lived love relationship that was bound to fail.
Two years later on a TV show
Two years had passed when the man saw the woman on a TV show.
He saw a teary little woman that he used to know
He saw the same woman that he had left crying two years ago.
Sayin' "Lord yes Oprah, He left me back in Abilene"
The woman was now telling Oprah Winfrey that the man had left her back in Abilene.
She flashed his picture for the world to see
The woman showed his picture on TV for everyone to view.
Said "if anybody knows this lousy S.O.B."
She called him an unpleasant name and addressed anyone who may know him.
Tell him Junior's hungry ain't nothin in this world that's free
She declared that their child was hungry and there was nothing free in the world.
Repeat Chorus
The chorus repeats itself to reinforce the message that the man was gone and not coming back.
Contributed by Jonathan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@aliceshowalter88
Fantastic group that does a great job with any song! Love them.
@lelandcross9092
Just love these guys
@lelandcross9092
Can really dance to this one!
@dalethompson1080
Keep on keeping on !!!!!!!
@bg2497
He was long gone long long gone
@user-fh5fg4qx3n
Love this
@TheSkaggs54
This my song!
@Deader87
2 people are Gone! Long, Long, Long Gone!
@justaguyinashed
Nuclear-Skull87 Make it 3.
@reddhead2948
+Jason Rainey 4