I left my home
In
Norfolk Virginia

California
On my mind
Straddled

That Greyhound
Rode him
Past Raleigh

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


We had motor
Trouble it

Turned into
A struggle
Half way

'Cross Alabama
And that 'hound
Broke down

And left us
All stranded
In downtown

Birmingham

Straight off

I bought me
A through
Train ticket

Ridin' cross
Mississippi
Clean

And I was on
That midnight
Flyer out

Of Birmingham
Smoking into
New Orleans


Somebody
Help me get

Out of Louisiana
Just help me get
To Houston town

There's
People there
Who care

A little 'bout 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 hands
And I woke up high
Over Albuquerque

On a jet
To the promised land


Workin' on a T-bone
Steak a la carte
Flying over
To the Golden State
The pilot told me

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

Cool your wings
And let me make it
To the telephone

Los Angeles

Ggive me
Norfolk Virginia
Tidewater
Four ten O nine
Tell the folks
Back home

This is
The promised land
Callin'
And the poor boy's
On the line