LONG TIME COMIN'^©

12 Dec 1996 version

Out where the creek turns shallow and sandy
And the moon comes skimmin' away the stars
The wind in the mesquite comes rushin' over the hilltops
Straight into my arms
Straight into my arms

I'm ridin' hard carryin' a cache of roses
And a fresh map that I made
Tonight I'm gonna get birth naked and bury my old soul
And dance on it's grave
And dance on it's grave

It's been a long time comin', my dear
It's been a long time comin', but now it's here
And now it's here

Well my daddy he was just a stranger
Lived in a hotel downtown
When I was a kid he was just somebody
Somebody I'd see around
Somebody I'd see around

Well now down below and pullin' on my shirt
I got some kids of my own
Well if I had one wish for you in this god forsaken world, kids
It'd be that your mistakes'd be your own
That your sins would be your own

It's been a long time comin', my dear
It's been a long time comin', but now it's here
And now it's here

Out 'neath the arms of Cassiopeia
Where the sword of Orion sweeps
It's me and you Rosie, cracklin' like crossed wires
And you breathin' in your sleep
You breathin' in your sleep

Well there's just a spark of a campfire left burnin'
Two kids in a sleeping bag beside
I reach 'neath your shirt, put my hands across your belly and feel
Another one kickin' inside
And I ain't gonna fuck it up this time

It's been a long time comin', my dear
It's been a long time comin', but now it's here
It's been a long time comin', my dear
It's been a long time comin', but now it's here
And now it's here

These lyrics refer to the 12 Dec 1996 performance at Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN. Check also the album's version and the live versions (very similar): 12 Nov 1996, 12 Feb 1997, 25 May 1997, and 21 Apr 2005.

Thanks pinkcadillac at Greasy Lake.

Spoken intro on 12 Dec 1996 at Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN:

Here's a song I wrote, I left it off the last record. Too damn happy. That was the problem ??? (chuckles). Then happy songs come back and byte you in the ass. ??? I'm telling you (chuckles). Watch out for that (chuckles). But uh, I guess 'cause I took the all most out of it. Ain't no room ??? my best. So let's be brave. This is called uh, "Long Time Comin'". Thanks you. You sing it, no (chuckles). Seems I got a nice one.