[Verse 1]
They called me the idiot, my hands were on fire
Blood flowed from my fingers every time I pressed the wires
Exiled to the attic, out of harm's way
I hit that bow and arrow till I hit the hay

[Verse 2]
I got a suitcase full of energy, I’m following the wind
Old enough to know better, young enough to join in
Lived opposite the graveyard, you could hear the hookers cry
"You never paid me last week, so you ain't gettin' nothin’ tonight"

[Chorus]
It's been a long time, it's been a long time
Hangin' out in Lynn's Cafe 1959
We ran the streets together and we never had a dime
It's been a long time, it's been a long, long, long, long time

[Verse 3]
Still life never moved me or the friends that I chose
They was always up to something, as the saying goes
The road to good intentions was starting to fray
And then I met a lunatic who showed me the way

[Chorus]
It's been a long time, it’s been a long time
Well "no" is not an option when your ass is on the line
I didn’t need no lawyer, I was desperate to sign
It's been a long time, it’s been a long, long, long, long time
Hey, hey
[Mandolin and Piano Break]

[Verse 4]
Be careful what you wish for, dreams can come true
I was used to failure, this was something new
We tripped the light fandango till we ran out of steam
And then one by one we fell off the end of a dream

[Chorus]
It's been a long time, it's been a long time
You take a chance on destiny
You never know what you'll find
Fortune and misfortune are forever entwined
It’s been a long time, it's been a long, long, long, long time

[Chorus]
It's been a long time, it's been a long time
You've been going your way. I've been going mine
I wasn't born in the USA but I'm that way inclined
It's been a long time
It's been a long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long time

[Outro]
So if you're ever in the vicinity
Drop me a line
It's been a long time
It's been a long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long...