Every time it rains, Lord, I run to my window.
An' all I do is wring my hands and moan,
I listen to that thunder roll, an' I can hear that lonesome wind blow.
Tell me, baby, why you been gone so long?

Tell me, baby, why you been gone so long, you been gone so long now?
Tell me, baby, why you been gone so long?
The wolf is scratchin' at my door and I can hear that lonesome wind blow.
Yeah, tell me, baby, why you been gone so long?

Someone said they thought they saw you roaring down in Reno,
With a big oil man from San Antone.
They tell me I'm a fool to pine for you but what do they know?
Yeah, tell me, baby, why you been gone so long?

Tell me, baby, why you been gone so long, you been gone so long now?
Tell me, baby, why you been gone so long?
The wolf is scratchin' at my door and I can hear that lonesome wind blow.
Yeah, tell me, baby, why you been gone so long?

There ain't nothin' I wanna do. Oh, I guess I could get stoned,
An' let the past paint pictures on my head.
Kill a fifth of Thunderbird and try to write a sad song.
Tell me, baby, why you been gone so long?

Tell me, baby, why you been gone so long, you been gone so long now?
Tell me, baby, why you been gone so long?
The wolf is scratchin' at my door and I can hear that lonesome wind blow.
Yeah, tell me, baby, why you been gone so long?

Tell me, baby, why you been gone so long?