I remember waking in the morning
To the sound of the rooster’s crow
Mamma cooking in the kitchen
Arthur Godfrey on the radio
Me and Dad were just like strangers
We never did see eye to eye
Came to blows one Sunday morning
So I packed my bags and I said goodbye
CHORUS
When you leave that way you can never go back
A train won’t run on a torn up track
Sometimes 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 day
I left her standing at the alter
With a baby on the way
REPEAT CHORUS
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 I’d 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
CHORUS
He said son, when you leave this 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 this way you can never come home
All through eternity you’ll roam alone
'Cause when you leave this way you can never come home
This song has always reminded me of my brother. He ran away when he was 16 and it’s been a good 30 years since we’ve spoken. He cut us all out of his life, he never married and is one lonely guy. He didn’t even come to our dads funeral who died several months ago. I’ll never understand it.
I spent 10 years in prison(2000-2010)and did a bit on the unit that had death row. Have also known many lifers who were commuted off death row. This song hits home hard ,because ive seen redemption, felt redemption! REDEMPTION IS REAL! I know these men have done some horrible things, but so many were lost in a haze of drugs and alcohol! I was facing a life sentence at 17! God bless the jury that decided to give me a 2nd chance! Im now in my late 30s,married, with children who i give all the love and guidance that I can possibly give! If you are ever on a jury with a chance to sentence someone to the ultimate, just remember when you make that decision,you can never go back!!! God bless!!!