To me it seems pretty plain that Patty is assuming the voice of man who has just left the funeral of his wife of 40 years. The "long ride home" is the ride home from the funeral.
On the long ride home he recollects the beginning of their lives together, how over time he took her for granted, said unkind words, etc.
Then he's pulling into the driveway and he realizes how empty his life is now without her.
I imagine a person could sing this song from a widow's perspective, but it is very clearly from a widower's perspective.
Patty has assumed the male voice before in "Top of the World". In that song she is singing from the perspective a man who has recently died. "One night they called me to supper, but I never got up. I stayed right there in my chair."
To me it seems pretty plain that Patty is assuming the voice of man who has just left the funeral of his wife of 40 years. The "long ride home" is the ride home from the funeral.
On the long ride home he recollects the beginning of their lives together, how over time he took her for granted, said unkind words, etc.
Then he's pulling into the driveway and he realizes how empty his life is now without her.
I imagine a person could sing this song from a widow's perspective, but it is very clearly from a widower's perspective.
Patty has assumed the male voice before in "Top of the World". In that song she is singing from the perspective a man who has recently died. "One night they called me to supper, but I never got up. I stayed right there in my chair."