So Long It's Been Good to Know You

by Woody Guthrie This version was adapted by the Weavers

1. I've sung this song, but I'll sing it again,
Of the people I've met and the places I've seen.
Of some of the troubles that bothered my mind
And a lot of good people that I've left behind, saying:

CHORUS
So long, it's been good to know yuh;
So long, it's been good to know yuh;
So long, it's been good to know yuh.
What a long time since I've been home,
And I've gotta be driftin' along.

2. The sweethearts sat in the dark and they sparked.
They hugged and they kissed in that dusty old dark.
They sighed and they cried and they hugged and they kissed,
But instead of marriage they talked like this: Honey,

CHORUS

3. I went to your family and asked them for you.
They all said, “Take her. Oh, take her, please do!
She can’t cook or sew, and she won’t scrub your floor.”
So I put on my hat and tip-toed out the door, saying,

CHORUS

4. I walked down the street to the grocery store.
It was crowded with people both rich and both poor.
I asked the man how his butter was sold.
He said, “One pound of butter for two pounds of gold.” I said,

CHORUS

5A. The telephone rang. It jumped off the wall,
That was the preacher, a-makin' his call.
We’re waitin’ to tie the knot.
You’re getting married. Believe it or not!

(5B. The telephone rang. It jumped off the wall,
That was the preacher, a-makin' his call.
He said, "Kind friends, this may be the end.
You have your last chance at salvation from sin!")

6A. The church was jammed and the church, it was packed,
The pews were all crowded from the front to the back
A thousand friends waited to kiss my new bride,
but I was so anxious, I rushed her outside.

(6B. The church, it was jammed and the church, it was packed,
The pews were all crowded from the front to the back
That the preacher could not read a word of his text,
So he folded his specs, took up a collection, Sayin')

CHORUS

So long, it's been good to know yuh;
So long, it's been good to know yuh;
So long, it's been good to know yuh.
What a long time since I've been home,
And I've gotta be driftin' along.


1. What words in the chorus mean: I have to go. or Gotta go
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2. What are the present perfect verbs in the first verse?

a. _____________________________
b. _____________________________
c. _____________________________
d. _____________________________

3. If something has already happened, then you can use the present perfect tense. For example:
a. I have already eaten lunch. (eat)
b. My friend has already taken this class. (take)
A. YOUR TURN
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If something began in the past and has been that way since then, you can use the present perfect tense. For example:
a. I haven’t eaten since this morning at 8 o’clock. (eat)
b. I’ve been in the U.S. since 1999. (since Jan.) (be)
B. YOUR TURN
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You can use the present perfect tense if the question is about something that is brand new in your life, and you ask it this way:
a. Have you ever been to Las Vegas? or (be)
b. Have you ever eaten at MacDonald’s? (eat)
C. YOUR TURN (Write a question to ask your partner.)
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Your answers for the above questions can use the present perfect tense.
For example: Yes. I went to Las Vegas a year ago. (past tense of “go”)
No. I have never been to Las Vegas. (present perfect “be”)
YOUR TURN (Write your partner’s answer.)
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If you want to say how long – from then to now, you can use the present perfect. For example:
a. I have worked in the same company for 5 years.
b. I have been waiting for the bus for a long time.
B. YOUR TURN
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4. Why are the present perfect verbs the correct verbs for this first verse?
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5. In the 2nd verse, what are all the past tense verbs?
a. _____________________________
b. _____________________________
c. _____________________________
d. _____________________________
e. _____________________________
f. _____________________________
g. _____________________________
6. Why are these past tense verbs the correct verbs for this 2nd verse?

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7. What does “sparked” mean in this verse?
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8. “instead of ” is used when you want to tell an alternative idea.

Can you use “instead of” in a sentence?
The “of” is like a preposition, so you’ll have to follow “of” with a noun. For example,
I’ll have onion rings instead of French fries.
We went to Disneyland instead of Lake Tahoe.
Instead of swimming, we just walked along the beach.
Your turn
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9. In verse 3, why did he go to her family? (Answer in a complete sentence.) __________________________________________________________

10. Why did he leave? (in verse 3) Answer in the past tense, please.

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11. What’s the difference between these two sentences: (Use the words either and both in answering this question.)
“She can’t cook or sew.” _____________________________________________
“She can cook and sew.” _____________________________________________

12. Why do we use “or ” in “She can’t cook or sew?” _________________
For example: We don’t come to school on Saturdays or Sundays.
I won’t eat meat or chicken because I’m a vegetarian.

13. Can you write your own example of a negative sentence using “OR” ?
Tell me two things you CAN’T do.


14. What is a preacher ? Can you give me a synonym? ________________________________________________________________________
15. “jammed” and “packed” are adjectives. What’s another word in verse #6 that means the same thing? __________________________________
16. In verse #6, what are the pews ? _______________________________________________________________________
17. Also in verse #6B, what is the preacher’s “text”? It’s his______________.
18. What is another word for “specs” [spectacles]?

19. What is “the collection.” _________________________________________

20. We use “can” (“could” in the past) to say we are not able to do something. For example:
I can’t drive. = I am not able to drive.
I can speak both Mandarin and Cantonese. =
I am able to speak both Mandarin and Cantonese.
When I was young, I could walk 5 miles and not get tired.
Today I am not able to walk even 1 mile.

How do we say “He could not read” in another way?
He_______________________________________________________
21. Now you write two sentences, one using “can or could + base form of a verb.______________________________________________________________

and another sentence using to be able to
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22. Can you tell me something you cannot do.

23. What phrase in verse #5A mean “to get married”? ___________________
24 Why do you think the groom was anxious to take his bride outside?
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25. What words rhyme?
a. ____________ sort of rhymes with again.
b. mind rhymes with _______________
c. sparked sort of rhymes with _______________
d. kissed sort of rhymes with _______________
e. you rhymes with _______________
f. floor rhymes with _______________
g. store rhymes with _______________
h. sold rhymes with _______________
i. wall rhymes with _______________
j. end sort of rhymes with _______________
k. packed sort of rhymes with _______________
l. text sort of rhymes with _______________

CONVERSATION (Talk to your partner. Then write your answer.)
26. Is there someone that you said, “So long” to? Who was that person? Why did you say, “Good-bye”. When did this happen? How did you feel?



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