I left my home in Norfolk, Virginia California on my mind I straddled that Greyhound and rode him past Raleigh And on across Caroline We stopped at Charlotte, we by-passed Rockhill We never was a minute late We was ninety miles out of Atlanta by sundown Rollin’ ‘cross Georgia State We had motor trouble that turned into a struggle Half-way across Alabam’ And that ‘Hound broke down and left us all stranded In downtown Birmingham
Right away I bought me a through train ticket Ridin’ ‘cross Mississippi clean And I was on the Midnight Flyer out of Birmingham Smokin’ into New Orleans Somebody help me get out of Louisiana Just help me get to Houston town There 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 They 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 in thirteen minutes We’d be headed in the terminal gate Swing low sweet 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-o-nine Tell the folks back home, this is the promised land calling And the poor boy is on the line