I´ve got to leave old Durham town,
I´ve got to leave old Durham town.
I´ve got to leave old Durham town,
And the leaving´s gonna get me down.

Back in nineteen forty-four,
I remember Daddy walking out the door.
Mama told me he was going to war, he was leaving,
Leaving, leaving, leaving, leaving me. - fade

I´ve got to leave old Durham town,
I´ve got to leave old Durham town.
I´ve got to leave old Durham town,
And the leaving´s gonna get me down.

When I was a boy, I spent my time,
Sitting on the banks of the river Tyne.
Watching all the ships going down the line, they were leaving,
Leaving, leaving, leaving, leaving me.

I´ve got to leave old Durham town,
I´ve got to leave old Durham town.

I´ve got to leave old Durham town,
And the leaving´s gonna get me down.

The last week Mama passed away,
Good-bye, son, was all she´d say.
There´s no cause for me to stay, so I´m leaving,
Leaving, leaving, leaving, leaving free.

I´ve got to leave old Durham town,
I´ve got to leave old Durham town.
I´ve got to leave old Durham town,
And the leaving´s gonna get me down.

I´ve got to leave old Durham town,
I´ve got to leave old Durham town.
I´ve got to leave old Durham town,
And the leaving´s gonna get me down.