[Verse 1]
He was standing on the highway somewhere way out in the sticks
Guitar across his shoulder like a 30-ought-six
He was staring in my headlights when I come around the bend
Climbed up on my shotgun side and told me with a grin

[Chorus]
I'm going to New York City
I never really been there
Just like the way it sounds
I heard the girls are pretty
There must be something happening there
It's just too big a town

[Verse 2]
He was cold and wet and hungry, never did complain
Said he'd come a thousand miles through sleet and snow and rain
He had a hundred stories about the places that he'd been
He'd hang around a little while and hit the road again

[Chorus]
I'm going to New York City
I never really been there
Just like the way it sounds
He said the girls are pretty
There must be something happening there
It's just too big a town
[Verse 3]
See, I've been to New York City, seems like it was yesterday
I was standing like a pilgrim on the Great White Way
The girls were really pretty, but they wouldn't talk to me
I held out about a week, went back to Tennessee

[Verse 4]
So I thought I'd better warn him and I climbed out of my car
Grabbed his battered suitcase, shouldered his guitar
I knew I was just jealous, if I didn't wish him well
I slipped the kid a twenty, said "Billy, give 'em hell"

[Chorus]
I'm going to New York City
I never really been there
Just like the way it sounds
I heard the girls are pretty
There must be something happening there
It's just too big a town

Going to New York City
I never really been there
Just like the way it sounds
He heard the girls were pretty
There must be something happening there
It's just too big a town
[Outro]
Going to New York City
Going to New York City
Going to New York City