Long Gone

(album: Confederate Railroad - 1992)

Abilene airport 6 am
He had a teary little woman hanging on to him
Saying "promise me Billy, you'll call me when you reach LA"
He said "I'm keeping your number honey, right up here"
He was tapping on his temple but the point was clear
He had no intention of ever coming back, no way

He was long gone
Long, long gone
Skipping like a stone
He packed up his heart
And he was long gone

Two packs of peanuts and a Canada Dry
Had him thinking what a luxury is was to fly
It was the best way out of a love that wasn't meant to last
All those binding words she used to love to hear
Like forever and whatever you want my dear
Just memories, now something in the misty past

He was long gone
Long, long gone
Skipping like a stone
He packed up his heart
And he was long gone

Nine months later on a TV show
He saw a teary little woman that he'd used to know
She said "Lord yes Oprah, he left me back in Abilene"
She flashed his picture for the world to see
And said "If anybody knows this lousy S.O.B
Tell him June is hunting
There ain't nothing in this world as free"

He was long gone
Long, long gone
Skipping like a stone
He packed up his heart
And he was long gone
...