LONG GONE - Free Jazz Leadsheet

“Long Gone,” published in 1920 and written by W. C. Handy and Chris Smith, reflects the early development of blues within the popular music landscape of the time. The tune emerged during a period when blues elements were increasingly incorporated into dance-band and vaudeville repertoire, creating a bridge between traditional blues expression and commercial song publishing.

The earliest recordings appeared in the 1920s, performed by musicians active during the transition from ragtime to blues-based popular music. Later revivals by jazz and blues interpreters maintained the song’s presence in performance traditions. Built on a straightforward blues framework, the piece supports expressive vocals or instrumental embellishment and conveys themes of departure, distance, and emotional longing.