D.R.I. (Dirty Rotten Imbeciles) are a hardcore punk band formed in Houston,… Read Full Bio ↴D.R.I. (Dirty Rotten Imbeciles) are a hardcore punk band formed in Houston, USA in 1982. Current line-up comprises founding members vocalist Kurt Brecht and guitarist Spike Cassidy, as well as drummer Rob Rampy and bassist Harald Oimoen. D.R.I. never gained a mainstream audience, but integrating hardcore punk roots with thrash-metal influences was a stylistic catalyst for their contemporaries - most notably Agnostic Front, Corrosion Of Conformity, Verbal Abuse, Cro-Mags, Dr. Know - alongside whom they are considered pioneers of what they called "Crossover" in their third album (1987). To date, D.R.I. have released 7 albums. Since then, the band has continued touring and intermittently going on hiatus. In 2004, D.R.I. released a web-only demo track "Against Me", their first recording in a decade. For years, there has been talk of an eighth D.R.I. album, which has yet to materialize. D.R.I. has also its own label called "Rotten Records".

Gone Too Long
D.R.I. Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

(Hello???)

I call you up
You've got nothing to say
I get the hint
And I'm blown away

Been gone, gone too long!

I've been gone too long! (x2)

You must see me
In some far away city
Wonder, is she blond
And is she pretty

When I'm gone so long
Our bonds grow week
Trust gone sour
Cause we can't speak

Been gone, gone too long!
I've been gone too long! (x2)

I wake up at night
Drenched in sweat
Another nightmare
I can't forget

Drinking and thinking
About what could have been
Smoking and trying to
Live with my sin

Been gone, gone too long!
I've been gone too long! (x2)

Overall Meaning

The song "Gone Too Long" by D.R.I. explores the difficulty of maintaining relationships with loved ones while being away for a long period of time. The singer in the song describes calling someone up, possibly a romantic partner, only to realize that they have nothing to say. The hint is taken and the singer is left feeling blown away. It's clear that the singer has been gone for too long, and they express regret over this fact. The song continues on to describe the state of the relationship, with the bonds growing weaker and trust turning sour due to their inability to communicate. The singer is haunted by nightmares and can't forget what could have been, often turning to substances to cope with their guilt.

The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the isolation and loneliness that can come from being away from loved ones for an extended time. The repetition of the lyric "I've been gone too long" emphasizes this point and establishes a feeling of regret and sorrow. The use of imagery such as "drenched in sweat" and "smoking and trying to live with my sin" add deeper complexity and emotion to the song. Overall, "Gone Too Long" is a powerful reflection on the strains and challenges of long-distance relationships.

Line by Line Meaning

I call you up
I attempt to contact you

You've got nothing to say
You refuse to communicate with me

I get the hint
I understand that you do not want to talk to me

And I'm blown away
I am emotionally overwhelmed

Been gone, gone too long!
I have been absent for an excessive period of time

I've been gone too long! (x2)
Reiterating the fact that I have been absent for too long

You must see me
You may picture me

In some far away city
In a distant place

Wonder, is she blond
You speculate my appearance

And is she pretty
You wonder whether I am attractive

When I'm gone so long
My prolonged absence