Long Time Gone
Dixie Chicks Lyrics

Daddy sits on the front porch swingin'
Father is sitting on the front porch and swinging while looking at the vacant field.

Lookin' out on a vacant field
Father is gazing at the empty field that was once filled up with tobacco.

Used to be filled with burly N tobacco
The field was previously planted with burly N tobacco.

Now he knows it never will
Father is aware that the field will never be used for tobacco production again.

Brother found work in Indiana
Brother has secured employment in Indiana.

Sister's a nurse at the old folks home
Sister is working as a nurse at a facility for elderly people.

Momma's still cooking too much for supper
Mother is preparing more food than necessary for dinner.

And me, I've been a longtime gone
The artist has been absent for a long time.

No I ain't hoed a row since I don't know when
The artist hasn't done any manual labor for a long time.

Longtime gone
A long time has passed since the artist was last active.

And I ain't coming back again
The singer has no plans to return.

Delia plays that ol' church piano
Delia is playing the old church piano.

Sittin out on her daddy's farm
Delia is playing the piano outside her father's farm.

She always thought that we'd be together
Delia has always believed that she and the singer would be together.

Lord I never meant to do her harm
The singer didn't intend to hurt Delia.

Said she could hear me singin' in the choir
Delia mentioned that she heard the artist sing in the choir.

Me, I heard of another song
The artist found out about a different tune.

I caught wind and hit the road runnin'
After learning of the other song, the singer left quickly.

And lord I been a long time gone
The singer has been gone for a long time.

Lord I ain't had a prayer since I don't know when
The artist hasn't felt hopeful or lucky for a long time.

Now me I went to Nashville
The artist went to Nashville.

Tryin' to be the big deal
The artist is trying to make it as a big artist.

Playin' down on broadway
The singer is performing on Broadway.

Gettin' there the hard way
The artist is achieving success through hard work.

Livin' from a tip jar
The singer is surviving off of tips.

Sleepin' in my car
The singer is sleeping in their car.

Hockin' my guitar
The singer is selling their guitar.

Yeah I'm going be a star
The artist is determined to become a famous artist.

Now me and Delia sing every sunday
The artist and Delia sing every Sunday.

Watchin' the children and the garden grow
They enjoy watching children and gardens grow.

Listen to the radio to hear what's cookin'
They listen to the radio to hear the latest hits.

But the music ain't got no soul
The music they hear on the radio is not genuine or heartfelt.

Now they sound tired but they don't sound Haggard
The music on the radio sounds exhausted, but it doesn't sound like Merle Haggard.

They got money but they don't have Cash
The music on the radio is commercially successful but not authentic like Johnny Cash.

They got junior but they don't have Hank
Contemporary music has Hank Williams Jr., but not the original Hank Williams Sr.

I think, I think, I think... the rest is...
The rest of the music is not of interest to the artist.

No I ain't hit the roof since I don't know when
The singer hasn't lost their temper in a long time.

And it ain't coming back I said
The singer has moved on and doesn't plan to get angry again.

No I ain't honked a horn since I don't know when
The singer hasn't exhibited road rage for a long time.

A longtime gone
It's been a while since the artist was last active or present.

Longtime gone
A long time has passed since the artist was active or present.

And it ain't coming back again
The singer is not planning to return.