What is the meaning of the phrase "long time going, long time gone"?

It's from a song by David Crosby.

It's been a long time comin'

It's goin' to be a long time gone.

Appears to be a long time,

Yes, a long, long, log time

Before the dawn.

Turn, turn any corner.

Hear, you must hear what the people say,

You know there's something that's goin' on here,

That surely, surely, surely won't stand the light of day.

And it appears to be a long,

Such a long, long, long time before the dawn.

Speak out, you got to speak out against

The madness, you got to speak your mind,

If you dare.

But don't try to get you rself elected.

If you do you had better cut your hair.

'Cause it appears to be a long time,

Before the dawn.

It's been a long time comin',

It's been a long time gone.

But you know, the darkest hour,

Is always just before the dawn.

And it appears to be a long time,

Such a long, long, long time before the dawn.

A great song. I've always taken it to mean something, anything, whose absence lasts for a good long while but whose appearance is all too brief. It's kind of like the elliptical orbit of a heavenly body; something like Halley's Comet.

I've used it in the past to decribe a rainy day or two in the midst of a drought, or a long dry spell.

according to the liner notes its about feelings on the assassination of Bobby Kennedy. All of the politicians of the day were bought and sold according to the lyrics except Bobby and now he s dead. Long time gone is basically that good for the country is now a way s off

its a song