It's Been A Long Time

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Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes. Steven Van Zandt, 1991.

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Credits

• Better Days (Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes, 1991)
  • Southside Johnny: vocals, harmonica
  • Rusty Cloud: organ, Hammond organ, piano
  • Charley Drayton: backing vocals
  • Rick Gazda: trumpet
  • Steve Jordan: backing vocals
  • Ed Manion: baritone saxophone
  • Mark Pender: trumpet, backing vocals
  • Richie "La Bamba" Rosenberg: trombone
  • Mick Seeley: backing vocals
  • Bruce Springsteen: vocals
  • Joey Stann: tenor saxophone
  • Garry Tallent: bass
  • Steven Van Zandt: vocals, guitar
  • Max Weinberg: drums
  • Zoë Yanakis: maracas, tambourine

Performances

Performed live 19 times (not including snippet performances). 2017-09-21 PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel, NJ 2017-05-27 Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank, NJ 2017-04-22 Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, NJ 2012-10-16 Hammerstein Ballroom, New York City, NY 2003-12-08 Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ 2003-12-07 Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ 2003-12-05 Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ 2001-12-08 Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ 2001-12-07 Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ 2001-12-06 Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ 2001-12-04 Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ 2001-12-03 Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ 1998-01-31 Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank, NJ 1994-07-16 Stone Pony (The), Tent, Asbury Park, NJ 1993-06-24 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, NJ 1992-12-27 Stone Pony (The), Asbury Park, NJ 1991-09-26 Stone Pony (The), Asbury Park, NJ

Performances broken down by tour (not including rehearsals and snippet performances) Performed at 17 known other show(s), plus 0 public tour rehearsal(s).

Multiples

Performed multiple times during the following shows:

• 1991-09-26 Stone Pony (The), Asbury Park, NJ

Released on Album

Released on Better Days (Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes, 1991).

Released as Live Download

Live versions are available on the following 1 official live downloads:

• 1993-06-24 Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford, NJ

One of these recordings is also available on the playlist The Live Series: Songs Under Cover, Vol. 2 (2020).

On The Tracks

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME

5:32

GUEST: BETTERDAYS / 1991 single

Note: A song written by Steven Van Zandt and released by Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes on their 1991 album Better Days. Bruce Springsteen contributed to the recording of the song, singing second lead vocal. At least Springsteen's part was recorded in mid-1991 at Sigma Sound Studios in New York City, NY.

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^{Studio Sessions: Collaborations}

Lyrics

It's Been A Long Time

Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa, whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa
Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa, whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa

We lived in a time and a world of our own
Making up the rules as we went along
Just one coat between us and we never felt cold
We were never gonna get old

Playing cards 'till the sun came up, rolling dice
Down to the club and listening to the blues all night
Girls out on the corner get lonely now and then
Van Zandt and Springsteen: We'd never be that free again

It's been a long time since we laughed together
It's been a long time since we cried
Raise your glass for the comrades we've lost
My friend it's been a long, long time

Working just enough to pay the rent
Baby money got made baby and money got spent
Sleeping when we had nothing left to do
Under the boardwalk and up on the roof

Now we never quite fit baby, we never played the game
Came out exploding like a runaway train
Up all night talking 'bout dreams of better days
Ain't it funny how some things don't change

It's been a long time since we laughed together
It's been a long time since we cried
Raise your glass for the comrades we've lost
My friend it's been a long, long time
Oh oh

Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa, whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa
Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa, whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa

We lived in a time and a world of our own
Making up the rules as we went along
Just one coat between us and we never felt cold
Woah we were never gonna get old

It's been a long time since we laughed together
It's been a long time since we cried
Raise your glass for the comrades we've lost
My friend it's been a long, long time

It's been a long time since we laughed together
It's been a long time since we cried
Raise your glass for the comrades we've lost
My friend it's been a long, long time

Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa, whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa
Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa, whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa
It's been a long, long time
Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa
Oh yesterday
Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa
Raise your glass baby
Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa
Ah yeah
Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa
It's been a long, long time
Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa
One more time baby
One more time baby
Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa
Come on, come on, raise your glass now
Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa
I've been waiting since a long
Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa
Such a long long long time
Raise your glass baby
Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa
Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa
Come on baby
Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa
Come on up, come on up
Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa
Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa
Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa
Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa
Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa
Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa
Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa
…

Visit SpringsteenLyrics.com for other versions of this song.

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