Introduction
With “I’ve Been a Long Time Leaving (But I’ll Be a Long Time Gone),” Waylon Jennings delivers a classic example of what made him the undisputed outlaw poet of country music—a performer who could mix humor, heartache, and hard-edged honesty in a way that was unmistakably his own. Originally written by Roger Miller, the song first appeared on Waylon’s 1968 album Only the Greatest, and it’s a perfect early showcase of the attitude and independence that would later define his legendary career.
The title alone is a masterpiece of country wordplay: “I’ve been a long time leaving, but I’ll be a long time gone.” In one clever turn of phrase, the listener is introduced to a restless soul, someone who’s stuck around too long, knows it, and is finally ready to walk—but not without a few parting words. It’s not a song about heartbreak in the traditional sense—it’s about knowing when to leave, and owning it with grit and style.
Waylon’s vocal delivery is relaxed, rugged, and rich with personality. He doesn’t beg or whine—he drawls with confidence, letting each line roll out with effortless rhythm. His phrasing is part of the magic: behind the smoothness is a wink, a smirk, and a deep understanding of what it means to love the road more than the routine.
Musically, the song rides a sharp, twangy guitar line, backed by a steady drum beat and just the right amount of honky-tonk swagger. It straddles the line between classic country and the rougher, rock-tinged edge that Waylon would fully embrace in the coming years. There’s a looseness to the arrangement that makes it feel like a late-night jam session—spontaneous, bold, and undeniably cool.
What makes “I’ve Been a Long Time Leaving” so enduring is its honest embrace of contradiction. It’s about departure, but not regret. It’s about being difficult, but not apologizing for it. It’s a song for anyone who’s ever felt trapped in one place too long—in a relationship, a town, or a routine—and finally decided it’s time to move on, consequences be damned.
For fans of Waylon Jennings, this track is a must. It’s one of the earliest signs of the Outlaw movement to come, a moment when Nashville polish started giving way to rougher truths and sharper edges. For new listeners, it’s a perfect introduction to the man who never followed the rules—and made country music better because of it.
“I’ve Been a Long Time Leaving (But I’ll Be a Long Time Gone)” is sharp, witty, and free as the wind—exactly the way Waylon wanted it.