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Long Time Gone

Bob Dylan
© 1963 M.Witmark & Sons, renewed 1991 Special Rider Music

(Official lyrics @ www.bobdylan.com)


Mar 1963
THE WITMARK DEMOS:
    THE BOOTLEG SERIES Vol. 9 / 1962-1964
THROUGH A BULLET OF LIGHT [Witmark Demos] (T-378)
GWW THE DEMO TAPES (vinyl bootleg)

19 Apr 1963
I WAS SO MUCH YOUNGER THEN Vol. 3
    (Do It The Old Way!) (T-676)

Witmark Studio, NYC - march 1963  
Second McKenzie tape, Home of Eve and Mac McKenzie, NYC - 19.apr.1963  

My parents raised tenderly
I was their only son.
My mind got mixed up with ramblin'
When i was all so young
An' i left my home the first time
When i was twelve an' one
I'm a long time a-comin', Ma
I'll be a long time gone.

On the western side of Texas
On the Texas plains
I tried to find a job of 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 an' talked all by myself
I did not tell no one
I'm a long time a-comin', babe
I'll be a long time gone.

Many times by the highway side
I tried to flag a ride
With bloodshot eyes an' grittin' 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 passin' thru
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 a-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 an' it only lies
An' 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." 
    

Recording dates & record list

Mar 1963 1THE WITMARK DEMOS: THE BOOTLEG SERIES Vol. 9 / 1962-1964
THROUGH A BULLET OF LIGHT [Witmark Demos] (bootleg)
GWW THE DEMO TAPES (vinyl bootleg)
19 Apr 1963 1I WAS SO MUCH YOUNGER THEN Vol. 3 (Do It The Old Way!) (bootleg)