[Verse 1]
Left my home in Norfolk, Virginia, California on my mind
Straddled that Greyhound, it rode me past Raleigh, and on across Caroline
Stopped in Charlotte and bypassed Rock Hill, and we never was a minute late
We was ninety miles out of Atlanta by sundown, rollin' 'cross the Georgia state
Had motor trouble it turned into a struggle, halfway 'cross Alabam'
The 'hound broke down left us all stranded in downtown Birmingham, woo

[Verse 2]
Straight off bought me a through train ticket, right across Mississippi clean
And I was on the midnight flyer out of Birmingham
Smoking into New Orleans
Somebody help me get out of Louisiana
Just help me get to Houston town
People are there who care a little 'bout me
They won't let the poor boy down
Sure as you're born, she bought me a silk suit, put luggage in my hands
And I woke up high over Albuquerque
On a jet to the promised land

[Instrumental Break]

[Verse 3]
Workin' on a T-bone steak a la carte
Flying over to the Golden State
The pilot told us in thirteen minutes
We'd be headin' 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 oh nine
Tell the folks back home this is the promised land callin'
The poor boy's on the line