Mama died when I was born that July daddy took the drinking long before he died

Grandma kept me up until her passing somebody's always leaving

I've met Betty Jo at school for orphans in those two years we saw each other often

A car wreck took her life before our wedding somebody's always leaving

[ steel ]

Susan Johnson left me three good children

They say the man she left with went to prison

God knows I done my best to try to raise 'em somebody's always leaving

Six years ago Susie called from Ireland Mary Jane sent me a card from Wheeling

The telegram said my son died for freedom somebody's always leaving

[ steel ]

They said that barroom brawl was all my doin'

They knifed my pal that's when I started shootin'

The only friend I've had lay there bleedin' somebody's always leavin'

This cell ain't big but it's big enough for thinking

This bed sheet makes her rope that's what I'm making

When they'll find me quite right bored there'll be no weeping

Somebody's always leaving somebody's always leaving