I’ve Got to Leave This Town [MAIN Records]

///*****/// [Intro – dark electric organ, clean guitar, steady bass, brooding live drums] [Verse 1 – North East English male vocal, clipped British phrasing, no American drawl] The cold of the morning shows in the window pane Same old street, the same sad rain Dad’s boots sit by the kitchen door He don’t wear them much anymore Mam says, “Eat, you’ll need your strength” Then looks away like she knows the rest I can’t sit down, I can’t settle down I’ve got one foot leaving this town [Pre-Chorus – organ rising, tense UK beat-group build] I hear the late train calling Past the back of the rows Every night I say tomorrow Every morning I don’t go [Chorus – powerful British beat-group vocal, natural North East English accent] I’ve got to leave this town I’ve got to go tonight If I’m still here in the morning I’ll never get it right I’ve got to leave this town Before it drags me down With my name on a clocking card And my dreams in the ground [Verse 2 – restrained, serious, organ underneath] Mary’s waiting by the station wall Collar turned up, saying nothing at all She says, “I’m going whether you come or stay I won’t stand here and watch you simply fade away” I look back once at those factory lights At the windows casting hues of pearly white All those homes with the curtains drawn All those people carrying on [Pre-Chorus – stronger vocal, drums building] I hear the late train calling I know what I should do If I let it leave without me I’ll be here the next year too [Chorus – bigger, dramatic, organ rising] I’ve got to leave this town I’ve got to go tonight If I’m still here in the morning I’ll never get it right I’ve got to leave this town Before it drags me down With my name on a clocking card And my dreams in the ground [Bridge – stripped down organ and bass, intimate British vocal] I don’t hate the street that raised me I don’t hate the folks I know But there’s nothing here to keep me Only reasons I must go So take my hand now, Mary Don’t ask me again When that whistle starts calling I’ll be on that train [Organ Solo – dramatic 1960s British Invasion organ lead, restrained and brooding] [Final Chorus – full band, gritty British lead vocal, restrained backing harmonies] I’ve got to leave this town I’ve got to go tonight If I’m still here in the morning I’ll never get it right I’ve got to leave this town Before it drags me down With my name on a clocking card And my dreams in the ground [Outro – organ fading, final vocal line] When that whistle starts calling I’ll be on that train [End – final organ chord]