After the guys worked on their sound for a while, inspired by gritty rock n roll, they finally recorded and released their first album, 1978's 'Molly Hatchet'. Then, in 1979, 'Flirtin' with Disaster' came out. The group's work earned them both critical praise and commerical success, the album hitting the #19 slot on the Billboard top 200 chart. Allmusic's Rob Theakston has spoken for many in writing that the "tour de force" of a record shows that " the band means business".
Yet the group's history would prove to be a rocky one. In 1980, Brown left the group to form The Danny Joe Brown Band (with future Molly Hatchet guitarist Bobby Ingram). He was replaced by vocalist Jimmy Farrar. After the release of Beatin' the Odds in 1980 and Take No Prisoners in 1981, Farrar left as well.
Brown rejoined the band in 1982 and Banner Thomas left and was replaced by Riff West. In 1983, a new album was released titled No Guts... No Glory. Steve Holland left and was replaced by keyboardist John Galvin.
In 1984 came the release of a new album The Deed Is Done. In 1985 Dave Hlubek left and he was replaced by Bobby Ingram. Then in 1985, the double live album Double Trouble Live was released.
The band continued to tour regularly, and then in 1989 the album Lightning Strikes Twice was released.
1990s
In 1991, the greatest hits collection Greatest Hits was released. Molly Hatchet was in ways similar to fellow Southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd in that it paired strong guitar work with a pounding boogie beat. When Brown left the band after Flirtin' with Disaster and was replaced by Farrar, the band's sound turned more to jamming and free form. When Brown returned in time for No Guts...No Glory, the original sound returned as well.
In 1996 due to a stroke and illness Brown had to leave the band, bringing in lead singer Phil McCormack to finish the album Devils Canyon in 1996.
At this point, the band consisted of members: vocalist Phil McCormack, guitarists Bobby Ingram and Bryan Bassett, keyboardist John Galvin, bassist Andy McKinney, and drummer Mac Crawford.
In 1998 Silent Reign Of Heroes was released. And in 1999 the band traveled coast to coast with Charlie Daniels and the Volunteer Jam.
2000s
In 2000, the album The Kingdom Of XII was released in Europe. The band went on tour to promote this album. It was released in the United States in 2001. Locked and Loaded (2003) and Warriors of the Rainbow Bridge (2005) followed. In January of 2005, Ingram invited Hlubek to rejoin Molly Hatchet and in doing so became the only current member who was a part of the original band.
On Thursday, March 10, 2005, after Brown was hospitalized for four weeks, he died less than an hour after returning to his home in Davie, Florida with his family and friends at his side, at the age of 53 from complications from pneumonia. He had previously left the group due to the suffering from a massive stroke in 1995 while driving to his brother's house. After a long battle with diabetes and the effects of the stroke, Brown was able to take the stage one last time at the Jammin' for DJB benefit concert in 1998 where with the help of his friends he ended the show with "Flirtin' with Disaster."
On Monday, June 19, 2006, founding guitarist Duane Roland died in St. Augustine, Florida at the age of 53. He had been playing with the band Gator Country, consisting of former members of Molly Hatchet, as late as May of 2006. His death was listed as being of "natural causes".
Bruce Crump (July 17, 1957 – March 16, 2015) was the original drummer from 1976 to 1983 (including their 1980 hit song "Flirtin' with Disaster" ) and 1984 to 1991. He also played as a member of Canadian band Streetheart in the early 1980s, and joined several of his former Molly Hatchet bandmates in the band Gator Country in the mid-2000s. At his death, Crump was in the Jacksonville, Florida-based band White Rhino and the newly reformed China Sky.
Bass guitarist Banner Thomas died of complications of pneumonia, at 63, on April 10, 2017.
Dave Hlubek died of a heart attack on September 3, 2017, at the age of 66.
Jimmy Farrar, who was frontman from 1980 to 1982, died of heart failure on October 29, 2018, at 67. Singer Phil McCormack died on April 26, 2019 at 58 (McCormack had been sidelined in early 2019, after suffering from health troubles that affected his voice andwas replaced by singer Jimmy Elkins, who continued on with Hatchet after McCormack's death).
Steve Holland, the last original member of Molly Hatchet, died on August 2, 2020.
Long Time
Molly Hatchet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Been six long months since I held you tight.
It's been a long time.
Baby, you are my only love,
Sent to me, from Heaven above.
Oh, honey, times are bad.
Got so bad, one lonely night,
I needed you to hold me tight.
I've got you on my mind,
You know I've done you wrong.
Oh, baby, listen to my song.
We made a deal,
I remember the pact,
Now you're gone and I need you back.
Honey, don't be so mad.
There's no other,
There never could be,
You're my woman, my family.
Honey, baby, take me back.
I've got you on my mind,
You know I've done you wrong.
Oh, baby, listen to my song.
Chorus:
A feeling inside
I couldn't hide,
Now I wish I lied.
Oh, baby, won't you come back home?
Lonely days and damn the nights,
Has it been too long to make things right?
Been a long time,
Lord a long time.
I've got you on my mind,
You know I've done you wrong.
Oh, this pain in my soul.
Chorus:
The feeling inside,
I couldn't hide,
Now I wish I lied.
Oh, baby, won't you come back home?
Yeah, a long time.
The Molly Hatchet song, Long Time, tells the story of a man who is desperately missing his loved one. He has been alone for six long months with only the full moon to light his nights. He acknowledges that he has done wrong by his girl and wishes to make things right. He pleads with her to come back home, knowing that she is his only love sent to him from Heaven above.
The chorus repeats the line, "The feeling inside, I couldn't hide, now I wish I lied,” which reflects on how the man made a mistake by letting his girl go. He remembers the pact they made and feels regret for losing her. He asks her not to be mad, promising that there is no other and she is his woman and family. He is willing to try and make things right, but knows it has been a long time since they were together.
Overall, this song reflects on the theme of love, loss, and regret. It showcases the emotions of a man who is missing his loved one and is willing to do anything to have her back in his life.
Line by Line Meaning
All alone with a full moon to light my night.
I am by myself under the moonlight, trying to find comfort.
Been six long months since I held you tight.
It has been half a year since I last embraced you.
It's been a long time.
My wait has been prolonged.
Baby, you are my only love,
You are the one I hold dearly in my heart.
Sent to me, from Heaven above.
I believe you were sent to me by a higher power.
Oh, honey, times are bad.
The situation is unfavorable, my dear.
Got so bad, one lonely night,
It became unbearable on one lonely night.
I needed you to hold me tight.
I longed for your embrace to calm me down.
Honey, don't be so sad.
Please do not feel sorrowful, my love.
I've got you on my mind,
My thoughts are occupied with you.
You know I've done you wrong.
I am conscious of the mistake I have made towards you.
Oh, baby, listen to my song.
Please pay heed to the message in my song.
We made a deal,
We had an agreement.
I remember the pact,
I recollect the promise we made.
Now you're gone and I need you back.
You are no longer here, and I require your presence.
Honey, don't be so mad.
Please do not feel angry, my love.
There's no other,
No one else compares.
There never could be,
It is impossible to find another like you.
You're my woman, my family.
You are my partner and my kin.
Honey, baby, take me back.
Please forgive me and accept me back into your life.
Chorus:
Recurring lines
A feeling inside
An emotion embedded deep within me
I couldn't hide,
I couldn't conceal it.
Now I wish I lied.
Now I regret not concealing it.
Oh, baby, won't you come back home?
Please come back to our abode, my love.
Lonely days and damn the nights,
Days filled with solitude and cursed nights.
Has it been too long to make things right?
Has too much time passed to correct our mistakes?
Lord a long time.
It has been a considerable amount of time.
Oh, this pain in my soul.
This agony I am feeling deep within me.
Yeah, a long time.
Underscoring that it has indeed been lengthy.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: DANNY JOE BROWN, DAVID LAWRENCE HLUBEK, STEVEN JEROME HOLLAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@davidhaney1394
All alone with a full moon to light my night.
Been six long months since I held you tight.
It's been a long time.
Baby, you are my only love,
Sent to me, from Heaven above.
Oh, honey, times are bad.
Got so bad, one lonely night,
I needed you to hold me tight.
Honey, don't be so sad.
I've got you on my mind,
You know I've done you wrong.
Oh, baby, listen to my song.
We made a deal,
I remember the pact,
Now you're gone and I need you back.
Honey, don't be so mad.
There's no other,
There never could be,
You're my woman, my family.
Honey, baby, take me back.
I've got you on my mind,
You know I've done you wrong.
Oh, baby, listen to my song.
A feeling inside
I couldn't hide,
Now I wish I lied.
Oh, baby, won't you come back home?
Lonely days and damn the nights,
Has it been too long to make things right?
Been a long time,
Lord a long time.
I've got you on my mind,
You know I've done you wrong.
Oh, this pain in my soul.
The feeling inside,
I couldn't hide,
Now I wish I lied.
Oh, baby, won't you come back home?
Yeah, a long time.
Source: LyricFind
@gabrielsierra865
What I like the most of M.H. is the details; In those old recordings you can hear every single instrument and enjoy a masterful arrangement. This is why those old records are brighter than today's standards, so you can hear every single guitar nuance. Today's music recordings abuse a lot of the low end, BOOM BOOM BOOM, and the midrange gets buried, the details get buried. Arrangements are simpler now and can not compare to those old epics.
@gabrielsierra865
Exactly! And those record were originally mastered for LPs, so not much bass and bottom end could be added without ruining the details or making the needle jump!
@ARCHER2740
My favorite song on this album. It doesn't get more badass than this......
@mainman127
I agree
@ralphfiligenzi6180
Such a great classic rock song! NO DOUBT!!
@mjmack7353
Feels great to be listening to these again, brings back the feeling of my youth. . .
@goldenagenut
Amazing song, amazing band.
@arlenehazlett6629
Love Molly Hatchet this is one of my favorites
@stevenashley47
Long time is a must learn for a guitarist that likes classic rock. Great great music. Old seventies guy myself.
@kellycox8024
rite on man