Well left my home in Norfolk Virginia California on my mind Straddled that greyhound And rode them into Ralley On across Caroline Stopped in Charlotte and bypassed Rockhill I never was a minute late We were 90 miles out of Atlanta by sundown rolling out of Georgia state We had motor trouble that turned into a struggle halfway across Alabam' That hound broke down and left us All stranded in downtown Birmingham Straight off I bought me a through train ticket right across Mississippi clean I was on that midnight flier out of Birmingham smoking into new Orleans. Somebody help me get out of louisiana Help me get to Houston town There are people there who care a little 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 I woke up high over Albuquerque on a jet to the promised land Working on a T-Bone steak a la carte flying over to the golden state The pilot told me in 13 minutes He would head us for the terminal gate Swing low charriot 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 Norfork Virginia Tidewater 4 10 0 9 tell the folks back home this is the promised land calling and the poor boy is on the line