Left my home in Norfolk, Virginia

California on my mind

Straddled that Greyhound

And rode it into Raleigh

And on across Caroline

We stopped in Charlotte

But we bypassed Rockhill

We never was a minute late

We were ninety miles out of Atlanta by sundown

Rolling out of Georgia state



Had some motor trouble

That turned into a struggle

Half way 'cross Alabam

That hound broke and left us

All stranded in downtown Birmingham



So right away I bought me a through train ticket

Right across Mississippi clean

And I was on that Special Flyer 

Out of Birmingham

Smoking into New Orleans



Someone's got to help me get out of Louisiana

Just to help me get to Houston town

There's an uncle there who cares a little about me

And he won't let the poor boy down



Sure as you're born

He bought me a silk suit

Put some luggage in my hand

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 that in thirteen minutes

He would have us at the terminal gate



Swing down chariot

Come down easy

Taxi to the terminal dome

Cut your engines

And cool your wings 

And let me make it to the telephone



Los Angeles give me Norfolk, Virginia

Tidewater four-ten-O-nine

Tell the folks back home

This is the Promised Land calling

And the poor boy is on the line