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