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.
Ah, we was ninety miles out of Atlanta by sundown,
Rollin' outta Georgia state.

We had motor trouble it turned into a struggle,
Half-way across Alabam'.
And that 'Hound broke down and left us all stranded,
In downtown Birmingham.

Instrumental break.

Right away I bought me a through train ticket,
Ridin' cross Mississippi clean.
And I was on that Midnight Flyer out of Birmingham,
Smokin' into New Orleans.

Somebody help me get out of Louisiana.
Just help me get to Houston town.
Find more similar lyrics on http://mp3lyrics.com/dtIThere are people 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 silk suit,
Put luggage in my hand.
And I woke up high over Albuquerque,
On a jet to The Promised Land.

Instrumental break.

A-workin' on a T-bone steak a la carte,
Flyin' over to the Golden State.
Ah, when the pilot told us 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.