Pack the sofa and pack the old armchair
Tell the china to ask the silverware
To pray we find that they speak the language there
And say good-bye to Carolina

Leave the puppies and leave the old porch swing
Tell the children we're bringing everything
And tell the picture of Martin Luther King
To say good-bye to Carolina

Go west, young man, while you still can
Before you're old and gray
Go west and make a better life
Than you could if you stayed

So tell your family and tell your friends good-bye
Say you'll write them and keep them on your mind
And say you'll see them whenever someone dies
And says good-bye to Carolina

Leave the puppies and leave the old porch swing
Tell the children we're leaving everything
Except the picture of Martin Luther King
To say good-bye to Carolina

Go west, young man, while you still can
Before you're out of time
And you can always come back home
Tomorrow, if you like
Wave to the tractor and to the tractor shed
And to the milk cow that kicked me in the head
I can't remember, but was it I who said
Good-bye to Carolina