We were born down in a northern town
Where the smoke rolls on the wind
And we promised that we'd would stay
That boyhood promise i'll break
Myself I will never forgive
But the roads here are dark
They're cold and they're marked
With every fear and secret I keep
And I've stayed here too long
I wish that I was gone
Down that unknown street
And on the last night
I'll pack a shirt and my tie
And take only the things that I need
I'll put a record on
Spin a leaving song
And take what sleep I can find
I'm away old friend, I'm away
I'm away old friend, I'm away
Of the ties that do bind
There's one I'll leave behind
It has been the girl of my youth
If she asked it of me
I think I'd let these troubles be
And stay with her for a time
She'd never ask of such things
For she knows that it would bring
Heartache somewhere down the line
So I will say my goodbyes
Through dark English eyes
And by gone come August time
I'm away my love, I'm away
I'm away my love, I'm away
There's a travelling band
It's will has become my command
Who knows where this road will take us
Heaven knows that it may break us
And it will be so easy to get lost
So when the band is torn down
And the barmaid sounds the bell
The bell for closing time
And when the lights come back on
And the boys are all gone
There'll be some silence for a while
And I'll thing of you then
My first ever friend
You that had a way with words
And I'll think of that girl
My northern dove with curls
And hope she found the man that she deserves
I'm away in the night, I'm away
I'm away in the night, I'm away