I've gotta leave ol' Durham town
I've gotta leave ol' Durham town
I've gotta leave ol' Durham town
And that leavin's gonna get me down
Back in 1944
I remember Daddy walking out the door
Mama told me he was going to war, he was leaving
Leavin', leavin', leavin', leavin' me
I've gotta leave ol' Durham town
I've gotta leave ol' Durham town
I've gotta leave ol' Durham town
And that leavin's gonna get me down
When I was a boy
I spent my time sitting on the banks of the River Thyme
Watching all the ships going down the line and they were leavin'
Leavin', leavin', leavin', leavin' me
I've gotta leave ol' Durham town
I've gotta leave ol' Durham town
I've gotta leave ol' Durham town
And that leavin's gonna get me down
Last week Mama passed away
"Goodbye, son" is all she'd said
There's no call for me to stay so I'm leavin'
Leavin', leavin', leavin', leavin' free
I've gotta leave ol' Durham town
I've gotta leave ol' Durham town
I've gotta leave ol' Durham town
And that leavin's gonna get me
I've gotta leave ol' Durham town
I've gotta leave ol' Durham town
I've gotta leave ol' Durham town
And that leavin's gonna get me down
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la