[Verse 1]
I left my home in Norfolk, Virginia
California on my mind
Straddled that Greyhound, it rode me past Raleigh
And on across Carolin'
Stopped in Charlotte and bypassed Rock Hill
And we never was a minute late
We was ninety miles out of Atlanta by sundown
Rolling across the Georgia state
We had motor trouble, it turned into a struggle
Halfway across Alabam'
When the Hound broke down
Left us all stranded in downtown Birmingham

[Instrumental]

[Verse 2]
Sure as you're born I bought me a...
And I was on that midnight flyer out of Birmingham
Smoking into New Orleans — that's right
So somebody help me get out of Louisiana
Just help me get to Houston town
There's people there who care a thing about 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]

[Verse 3]
Working on a T-bone steak a la carte
Flying over to the Golden State
When the pilot told us in thirteen minutes
We'd be heading in the terminal gate
Swing low sweet chariot, come down easy
Taxi to the terminal zone
Cut your engines, 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 calling
And the poor boy's on the line

[Instrumental]

[Outro]
Thank you. Phil's got a broken string. In the heat of the moment, he dug in maybe a little too hard. So we're gonna take a moment here and fix it so we can get everything just exactly perfect. 'Cause we wanna have everything just exactly perfect for ya