V1.
In early 1883, he said goodbye to family,
And all the folks of Suffolk that he knew
He’d read it in the local press, they were giving away land out west,
And Oliver knew what he had to do.
He longed to make his living in this earth, but times were bad and as things got worse
He couldn’t see his future in this land.
So he packed his bags and headed out, but he took one last look about,
Then tipped his hat to dear old Lavenham.

CHORUS:
Lavenham, Lavenham, where he’d been born and raised into a man.
But the money from the wool was gone, and in Africa a war raged on,
He couldn’t see his future in this land.
But he knew he’d always cherish Lavenham.
Uh huhu, Uh huhu,

V2
The journey ‘cross the sea was rough, and by Montreal he’d had enough,
But when he landed there was no work to be found.
Everybody said it would be best if he travelled on out further west,
So he hopped a train that was Winnipeg bound.
Then he found a job with CNR, and on those rails he travelled far,
He saw so many places in this land.
But on the line that led through Ladysmith, the scenery took away his breath
And the hills reminded him of Lavenham.

CHORUS
Lavenham, Lavenham, where he’d been born and raised into a man.
But the money from the wool was gone, and in Africa a war raged on,
He couldn’t see his future in this land.
But he knew he’d always cherish Lavenham.
Uh hu hu, Uh huhu,

Bridge
And when they handed him his own land deed, he knew that he’d have all he’d need,
To make a solid future in this land.
And as the town beside began to grow, the one thing Oliver did know,
Was he would fight and name it Lavenham, and he did and that name it still stands.

CHORUS
Lavenham, Lavenham, his little piece of heaven in this land.
Now the years have seen her rise and fall, but her history we will recall,
And we will always cherish Lavenham
oh we will always cherish Lavenham
Uh hu hu, Uh hu hu