My Parents Raised Me Tenderly,

I Was Their Only Son.

My Mind Got Mixed With Ramblin'

When I Was All So Young,

And I Left My Home The First Time

When I Was Twelve And One.

I'm A Long Time A-comin', Maw,

An' I'll Be A Long Time Gone.



On The Western Side Of Texas,

On The Texas Plains,

I Tried To Find A Job O'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 And Talked All By Myself,

I Did Not Tell No One.

I'm A Long Time A-comin', Babe,

An' I'll Be A Long Time Gone.



Many Times By The Highwayside,

I Tried To Flag A Ride.

With Bloodshot Eyes And Gritting 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 A-passin' Through.

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 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 Lon