My pDarents raised me tenderly
I wCas their only sDon.
My mDind got mixed with ramblin'
When IC was all so yDoung.
An' I lDeft my home the first time
When IC was twelve an' oDne.
I'm a lDong time a-comin' Ma
I'll bCe a long time gDone.
On Dthe western side of Texas
On Cthe Texas plaDins
I tDried to find a job of work
But they Csaid I's young of aDge.
My eyDes they burned when I heard
"Go Chome where you beloDng!"
I'm a lDong time a-comin'
I'll bCe a long time goDne.
I remDember when I's ramblin'
ArouCnd with the carnival trDains.
DifDferent towns different people
SomehCow they're all the sDame
I rDemember children's faces best
I remeCmber travelin' oDn.
I'm a lDong time a-comin'
I'll bCe a long time goDne.
I oDnce loved a fair young maid
An' I aiCn't too big to tDell
If she Dbroke my heart a single time
She bCroke it ten or tDwelve.
I wDalked an' talked all by myself
I did nCot tell no oDne.
I'm a lDong time a-comin' babe
I'll bCe a long time goDne.
MaDny times by the highway side
I trCied to flag a rDide
With bDloodshot eyes an' grittin' teeth
I'd wCatch the cars roll bDy.
The eDmpty air hung in my head
I's Cthinkin' all day lDong.
I'm a Dlong time a-comin'
An' I'll bCe a long time gDone.
You mDight see me on your crossroads
WChen I'm passin' tDhru
RemeDmber me how you wished to
As I'm Ca-driftin' from your vDiew.
I aDin't got the time to think about it
I gCot too much to get dDone.
Well I'm a Dlong time a-comin'
An' I'll bCe a long time gDone.
If DI can't help somebody
WCith a word or sDong
If DI can't show somebody
They Care travelin' Dwrong.
But DI know I ain't no prophet
An' I aCin't no prophet's sDon.
I'm just a lDong time a-comin'
An' I'll bCe a long time goDne.
So Dyou can have your beauty
It's skCin deep an' it only Dlies
An' Dyou can have your youth
It'll rCot before your eDyes.
Just gDive to me my gravestone
With it Cclearly carved upDon.
"I's a Dlong time a-comin'
An' I'll bCe a long time gonDe."