I left my home
in Norfolk Virginia,
California on my mind.
I straddled that Greyhound
and rode him in the Raleigh
and on across Caroline.
We stopped in Charlotte,
we bypassed Rock Hill,
We never was a minute late.
We was 90 miles out of
Atlanta by sundown,
Rollin' on the Georgia state.
We had motor trouble,
it turned into a struggle,
Half way 'cross Alabam,
And that 'hound broke down
and left us all stranded
in downtown Birmingham.
Right away, I bought me a
through train ticket,
ridin’ cross Mississippi-a 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 are people there
who care a little 'bout me
And they won't let
the poor boy down.
Sure as you're borne me,
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;
When the pilot told us
in 13 minutes
He would send us
at the terminal gate.
Swing low sweet chariot,
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
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. |
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