How Long Have You Been There

Willie Nelson · Nashville Was The Roughest [1976]

I've been walking in the shadows for so long that I forgot the sun can shine

I've turned away from everone and everything that wanted to be mine

Somehow I always shot my eyes and heart to everything that I could share

Now I'm standing still and I'm wondering just how long have you been there

And every path I've taken I have turned around and quickly closed the door

It seems as though I knew if I ever stop to feel I want more

I kept a steady run so my eyes could never focus anywhere

Now I'm standing still and I'm wondering just how long have you been there

How long have you been standing there protecting me from love that shouldn't be

Knowing all alone that I could realize that you were meant for me

Now I've got to mend every broken fence and bridge that I have burned

I've got to clear away the cobwebs in my heart so I can start to learn

For I realize that you've been waiting just to teach me how to care

Now I'm standing still and I'm wondering just how long have you been there

And now I'm standing still and I'm wondering just how long have you been there

How Long Have You Been There

Willie Nelson's 1976 recording of How Long Have You Been There appears on the album Nashville Was The Roughest, a collection that captures the artist during a period of significant stylistic exploration. The track reflects Nelson's signature approach to country and folk storytelling, characterized by his distinctive vocal delivery and relaxed phrasing. While the album shares its title with a broader era of experimentation in his discography, this song stands as a testament to his ability to convey deep emotion through understated musical arrangements. The recording contributes to a body of work that solidified Nelson's reputation as a master of the genre, blending traditional country elements with a unique, laid-back sensibility that would define his career for decades to come.