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

Hardy

HardySongwriter Interviews

The country hitmaker talks about his debut album, A Rock, and how a nursery rhyme inspired his hit single "One Beer."

Jesus In Pop Hits: The Gospel Songs That Went Mainstream

Jesus In Pop Hits: The Gospel Songs That Went MainstreamSong Writing

These overtly religious songs crossed over to the pop charts, despite resistance from fans, and in many cases, churches.

Spooner Oldham

Spooner OldhamSongwriter Interviews

His keyboard work helped define the Muscle Shoals sound and make him an integral part of many Neil Young recordings. Spooner is also an accomplished songwriter, whose hits include "I'm Your Puppet" and "Cry Like A Baby."

Kerry Livgren of Kansas

Kerry Livgren of KansasSongwriter Interviews

In this talk from the '80s, the Kansas frontman talks turning to God and writing "Dust In The Wind."

Amanda Palmer

Amanda PalmerSongwriter Interviews

Call us crazy, but we like it when an artist comes around who doesn't mesh with the status quo.

Bob Dylan Lyric Quiz

Bob Dylan Lyric QuizMusic Quiz

Think you know your Bob Dylan lyrics? Take this quiz to find out.