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