Long Time Gone (Home of Eve and Mac McKenzie, 4-18-63) Songtext
von Bob Dylan

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 12 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 of work, but they said I was young of age
My eyes they burned when I had, "Go home where you belong!"
I′m a long time a-comin′, an' I′ll be a long time gone

I remember when I was 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 12
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 highway side, 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 was 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 long time gone


So you can have your beauty, it′s skin deep and it only lies
And you can have your youth, it'll rot before your eyes
Just give to me my gravestone with it clearly carved upon
"I was a long time a-comin′ an' I′ll be a long time gone"