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 to bypass Rockhill
We never was a minute late
We was ninety miles out of Atlanta by sundown
Rollin' out of Georgia state
We had motor trouble that turned into a struggle
Halfway across Alabam'
And that bow broke down
And left us all stranded in downtown Birmingham
Right away I bought me a through train ticket
Got across Mississippi clean
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 there who care a bit about me
And they won't let the poor boy down
Georgia born, they bought me a silk suit
And 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
He would set us at the terminal gate
Swing low chariot, come down easy
Taxi to the terminal door
Cut your engines and cool your wings
And let me make it to the telephone
And Los Angeles, give me Norfolk Virginia
Tidewater for ten o-nine
Tell all the folks back home
It's the promised land callin'
And the poor boy is on the line
