Baby sister set out for the bright lights of California
Said she was gonna be a star
No word from someone in six long months
Can sure get on ya and it was breaking Momma's heart

I drove those thousand miles like a bat out of hell
Searched every corner, every low rent motel
'Til I found her there with greasy hair
And a strangers eyes and then she cried
And I held her tight and said you've been

Gone from love too long
There's nothing to be ashamed of
No way you could have known
Life was gonna knock you down
Strip you to the bone
And leave you all alone
Girl you've been gone from love too long

As the lights of LA faded in our rear-view mirror
She said, Sis I'm scared to death
I left home inoccent, I'm going back a sinner
I've seen and done things I'd just as soon forget
She put out that cigarette and crumpled up the pack
And said, what I wouldn't give to have just part of myself back
And I took her hand, said, I understand and she broke down
She said, tell me how, do I face Momma now
I said you've been

Gone from love too long
There's nothing to be ashamed of
No way you could have known
Life was gonna knock you down
Strip you to the bone
And leave you all alone
Girl you've been gone from love too long

Momma met us halfway down the driveway
Held out her arms to her baby
And all she had to say is

You've been gone from love too long
There's nothing to be ashamed of
No way you could have known
Life was gonna knock you down
Strip you to the bone
And leave you all alone
Girl you've been gone from love too long