I left my home
in Norfolk, Virginia
California on my mind
I straddled that Greyhound
and rode him into Raleigh
and on across Caroline
We stopped in Charlotte
but bypassed Rock Hill
we never was
a minute late
We was ninety miles
out of Atlanta
by sundown
rollin' outta
Georgia Bay
We had a little trouble
turned into a struggle
halfway across Alabam'
And that 'Hound
broke down
and left us all stranded
in downtown
Birmingham
Right away I bought me
a two train ticket
ridin' cross
Mississippi Queen
And I was on that
Midnight Flyer
out of Birmingham
smokin' into
New Orleans
Somebody help me
get out of Louisiana
help me get to
Houston town
There are people
down there
who care a little 'bout me
and they won't let
the poor boy down
Sure as you're born
they bought me a pistol
put luggage in my hand
And I woke up high
over Albuquerque
on a jet to
The Promised Land
Workin' on a T-bone steak
a la carte
flyin' over to
the Golden State
When the pilot told us
that in thirteen minutes
he would set us
at the terminal gate
Swing low chariot
come down easy
taxi to the
terminal zone
Cut your engines
and cool your wings
and let me make it
to the telephone
Los Angeles
give me Norfolk, Virginia
Tidewater
four-ten-oh-nine
Tell the folks back home
this is The Promised
Land callin'
and the poor boy's
on the line