my parents raised me tenderly i was their only son my mind got mixed with rambling when i was all so young and i left my home the first time when i was twelve and one im a long time a comin maw an ill 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 ls young of age my eyes they burned when i heard go home where you belong im a long time a comin an ill be a long time gone i remember when is rambling around with the carnival trains different towns different people somehow theyre all the same i remember childrens faces best i remember traveling on im a long time a comin ill be a long time gone i once loved a fair young maid an i aint 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 im a long time a comin babe an ill be a long time gone many times by the highwayside i tried to flag a ride with bloodshot eyes and gritting teeth id watch the cars roll by the empty air hung in my head is thinkin all day long im a long time a comin ill be a long time gone  you might see me on your crossroads when im a passin through remember me how you wished to as im a driftin from your view i aint got the time to think about it i got too much to get done well im a long time coming an ill be a long time gone if i cant help somebody with a word or song if i cant show somebody they are traveling wrong but i know i aint no prophet an i aint no prophets son im just a long time a comin an ill be a long time gone so you can have your beauty its skin deep and it only lies and you can have your youth itll rot before your eyes just give to me my gravestone with it clearly carved upon is a long time a comin an ill be a long time gone
['classic rock', 'country rock', 'folk', 'folk rock', 'rock', 'roots rock', 'singer-songwriter']