I dug a single seed into the ground, I hope it grows, grows
In a year or two if you’re around, you’ll see a rose, rose
Pack me up and keep me hidden somewhere, that you can find me
On a train to Paris going nowhere, draw the bridge behind me
Don’t be gone too long (Too long)
‘Cause you won’t be there to love me when you’re gone
Don’t be gone too long (Too long)
Tell me who’s gonna love me when you’re gone?
(Mm-mm)
(Mm-mm-mm)
When you’re, when you’re gone
(Mm-mm)
(Mm-mm-mm)
When you’re gone
Golden leaves are dancing on the ground, it’s getting cold, cold (Oh-oh)
Safe from time, we’ll be forever young, never old, old
See a ball of fire out in space, zooming up behind me
All the wonder written on your face, was there inside me
Don’t be gone too long (Too long)
‘Cause you won’t be there to love me when you’re gone
Don’t be gone too long (Too long)
Tell me who’s gonna love me when you’re gone?
(Mm-mm)
Oh, oh-whoa-oh-oh
(Mm-mm-mm)
When you’re, when you’re gone
(Mm-mm)
Oh-oh, oh-whoa
(Mm-mm-mm)
When you’re gone
Bring it back to me, bring it back to me
Is it really over?
Bring it back to me, bring it back to me
Is it over?
Bring it back to me, bring it back to me
Is it really over? Yeah
Bring it back to me, bring it back to me
Woo!
Don’t be gone too long (Too long, don’t be gone)
(Is it really over?)
‘Cause you won’t be there to love me when you’re gone (Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
Don’t be gone too long (Too long, don’t be gone)
(Is it really over?)
Tell me who’s gonna love me when you’re gone?
Don’t be gone too long (Too long)
(Is it really over?)
‘Cause you won’t be there to love me when you’re gone (Yeah-yeah, when it’s over)
Don’t be gone too long (Too long)
(Is it really over?)
Tell me who’s gonna love me when you’re gone?
Longing & Vulnerability: A Closer Look at “Don’t Be Gone Too Long”
“Don’t Be Gone Too Long” by Chris Brown is an emotional plea set against a backdrop of heartfelt metaphors and longing melodies. The lyrics use imagery like planting a seed and golden leaves falling to convey the passage of time and the fear of separation. Brown’s repetition of the phrase “don’t be gone too long” underlines the anxiety of losing a loved one and the void their absence creates. The song intertwines hope and uncertainty, with lines expressing a desire for love to return and questioning if the relationship is truly over. Ultimately, the track captures the universal ache of waiting and the hope that love will endure even through distance and doubt.
Song Credits
Artist: Chris Brown
Songwriters: Chris Brown, Nasri Atweh, Adam Messinger, Justin Bieber
Release Year: 2014
Label: RCA Records