How Long Gone

Album: If You See Her (1998)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Nashville songwriters John Scott Sherrill and Shawn Camp wrote this. Says Sherrill: "When we wrote it, it was almost a ballad - slow mid-tempo with a lilting little acoustic guitar lick that forms the basis of the song. When Ronnie and Kix first heard it, they weren't so sure about it. I think it was (producer) Don Cook who talked them into it. He said, 'I think we can mop this thing up and turn it into a Brooks & Dunn kind of thing,' and boy, they sure did. I thought that was great what they did there."
  • Many of the more personal songs Sherrill has written have become hits, including "Nothin' But The Wheel" by Patty Loveless and "Modern Day Drifter" by Dierks Bentley. This was not written from his personal experience. Says Sherrill, "That might of come from Shawn's inner personal turmoil banks, but not mine. I think he's writing about somebody I don't know."
  • The line, "A month of Sundays" is a southern expression Sherrill's mother used to say. It means a long time - 31 Sundays, that's a long time.

Comments: 1

  • Anonymousone of my favorites :captain tejas
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles

Timothy B. Schmit of the EaglesSongwriter Interviews

Did this Eagle come up with the term "Parrothead"? And what is it like playing "Hotel California" for the gazillionth time?

Julian Lennon

Julian LennonSongwriter Interviews

Julian tells the stories behind his hits "Valotte" and "Too Late for Goodbyes," and fills us in on his many non-musical pursuits. Also: what MTV meant to his career.

Ian Anderson: "The delight in making music is that you don't have a formula"

Ian Anderson: "The delight in making music is that you don't have a formula"Songwriter Interviews

Ian talks about his 3 or 4 blatant attempts to write a pop song, and also the ones he most connected with, including "Locomotive Breath."

Danny Kortchmar

Danny KortchmarSongwriter Interviews

Danny played guitar on Sweet Baby James, Tapestry, and Running On Empty. He also co-wrote many hit songs, including "Dirty Laundry," "Sunset Grill" and "Tender Is The Night."

Gary Brooker of Procol Harum

Gary Brooker of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer and pianist for Procol Harum, Gary talks about finding the musical ideas to match the words.

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"They're Playing My Song

It wasn't her biggest hit as a songwriter (that would be "Bette Davis Eyes"), but "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" had a family connection for Jackie.