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 

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 
(You Can Never Go Back)

Oh, we set our wedding day
I left her standing at the alter 
With a baby on the way 

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 

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