I 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
Rolling across the georgia state
Had motor trouble it turned into a struggle
Half way across alabam
The ahound broke down left us
All stranded in downtown birmingham

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 about me
And they won't let the poor boy down
Sure as she bore me 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

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 on nine
Tell the folks back home this is the promised land calling
And the poor boy's on the line hey