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