I cited this song in a recent thread on the current situation, then realised it was a long time since I had sung it, or heard anyone else do so. Wanting to refresh my memory of a song which was possibly Alex Campbell's best-known self-penned song, I did a search on Mudcat - no results, then on Google - lot's of mentions, but no lyrics. So I dug out my 1967 copy of "Faith, Folk and Clarity" (Galliard Press 7/6d) and found them. Here they are, with my own update of the third verse shown at the end. I know Alex wouldn't have minded.

Alan

BEEN ON THE ROAD (SO LONG)
(Alex Campbell)
(c)1965 Coda Music, London (Essex Music)

I've been on the road
So long
Been tired and cold
So long
I've been to the south
Where the winds they are warm
Travelling the road of no return
So long.

I've seen what was war
So long
The ruins and the scars
So long
The mansions of mud
The wounds and the blood
Seen the dying of all that was good
So long

The world's in a shroud
So long
A mushrooming cloud
So long
It's the lies and the greed
Of the leaders of men
Those cheats who would take us to war again
So long

Yet hope lives in me
So long
In the love that I see
So long
The courage and strength
Of a young man's smile
The faith that lives in a little child
So long

(Revised third verse (Alan Francis))

Now the world lives in fear
So long
As the war-clouds draw near
So long
Fed by lies and the greed
Of the leaders of men
Those fools who would take us to war again
So long