My p arents raised me tenderly
I w as their only s on.
My m ind got mixed with ramblin'
When I was all so y oung.
An' I l eft my home the first time
When I was twelve an' o ne.
I'm a l ong time a-comin' Ma
I'll b e a long time g one.
On the western side of Texas
On the Texas pla ins
I t ried to find a job of work
But they said I's young of a ge.
My ey es they burned when I heard
"Go home where you belo ng!"
I'm a l ong time a-comin'
I'll b e a long time go ne.
I rem ember when I's ramblin'
Arou nd with the carnival tr ains.
Dif ferent towns different people
Someh ow they're all the s ame
I r emember children's faces best
I reme mber travelin' o n.
I'm a l ong time a-comin'
I'll b e a long time go ne.
I o nce loved a fair young maid
An' I ai n't too big to t ell
If she broke my heart a single time
She b roke it ten or t welve.
I w alked an' talked all by myself
I did n ot tell no o ne.
I'm a l ong time a-comin' babe
I'll b e a long time go ne.
Ma ny times by the highway side
I tr ied to flag a r ide
With b loodshot eyes an' grittin' teeth
I'd w atch the cars roll b y.
The e mpty air hung in my head
I's thinkin' all day l ong.
I'm a long time a-comin'
An' I'll b e a long time g one.
You m ight see me on your crossroads
W hen I'm passin' t hru
Reme mber me how you wished to
As I'm a-driftin' from your v iew.
I a in't got the time to think about it
I g ot too much to get d one.
Well I'm a long time a-comin'
An' I'll b e a long time g one.
If I can't help somebody
W ith a word or s ong
If I can't show somebody
They are travelin' wrong.
But I know I ain't no prophet
An' I a in't no prophet's s on.
I'm just a l ong time a-comin'
An' I'll b e a long time go ne.
So you can have your beauty
It's sk in deep an' it only lies
An' you can have your youth
It'll r ot before your e yes.
Just g ive to me my gravestone
With it clearly carved up on.
"I's a long time a-comin'
An' I'll b e a long time gon e."
