I left New York City and its winter sting I woke up hours later to a Carolina spring The snow on the streets had turned to blue-green grass It had been a little while since I'd seen anything like that Soon enough you realize all the things you've lost A dream for a dream and that's exactly what it costs The hearth of a home you trade it for the road The light of a lover it all goes to the show Don't go, I can't stay little darlin' When I make a plan I take it to the bottom Don't go, I can't stay little missy When I made a plan to cross the Mississippi Don't go, can't you see I'm good as gone? It stays on my conscience with each new passing town The death in my family that I won't see to the ground The memory of a man and all for which he stood There's many things I left that no one ever should Don't go, I can't stay don't you get it? When I make a plan it's hard to forget it DOn't go, I an't stay that's for certain You don't need to hurt me, I'm already hurtin' Don't go, can't you see I'm good as gone? You can leave but don't come back You can leave but don't come back You can leave but don't come back Don't let the Verrazano slam you on the way out, boy You're gonna be the death of me It's better than being half alive in New York City Don't go, I can't stay little vixen When I made a plan to cross the Mason-Dixon Don't go, I can't stay don't you get it When I make a plan it's hard to forget it Don't go, can't you see I'm good as gone?