when you leave that way you can never go back

i remember waking in the morning

to the sound of a rooster's crow

mama cooking in the kitchen

and arthur gothrie on the radio

me and dad were just like strangers

we never did see eye to eye

it came to blows one sunday morning

so i packed my bags and i said goodbye

and when you leave that way you can never go back

a train won't run on a torn up track

some times i wish i'd never roamed

oh no

'cause when you leave that way you can never go home

then i met a girl in knoxville

oh we set our wedding date

left her standing at the altar

with a baby on the way. and when you leave that way you can never go back

a train won't run on a torn up track

some times i wish i'd never roamed

oh no

'cause when you leave that way you can never go home

lord i'd love to see my mom and daddy

and what i'd give to hold that boy of mine

i'd get down on my knees and say i'm sorry

if i could only go back one more time

but i killed a man in houston

when he caught me with his wife

and i told the preacher man to leave me alone

when he came to read my rights

and he said son

when you leave that way you can never come back

a soul won't roll on a torn up track

all through eternity you'll roam alone

'cause when you leave that way you can never come home

all through eternity you'll roam alone

'cause when you leave that way you can never come home