I left my home in Norfolk, Virginia
California on my mind
I straddled that Greyhound and rode into Raleigh
And on across Caroline
I had motor trouble that turned into a struggle
Halfway across Alabam'
And that 'Hound broke down and left me all stranded
In downtown Birmingham
Right away I bought me a through train ticket
Ridin' across 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
A-there are people there who care a little about me
And they won't let a poor boy down
♪
Sure as you're born, they bought me a silk suit
And put luggage in my hand
And I woke up high over Albuquerque
On a jet to the Promised Land
Working on a T-bone steak à la carte
Flying over to The Golden State
When the pilot told me, in 13 minutes
He would set us at the terminal gate
Ooh, swing low 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, 4-10-0-9
And tell the folks back home this is the Promised Land calling
And the poor boy is on the line
You've got to swing low chariot, come down easy
Taxi to the terminal zone
And cut your engines and cool your wings
And let me make it to the telephone
Los Angeles give me Norfolk, Virginia
Tidewater, 4-10-0-9
And tell the folks back home this is the Promised Land calling
And the poor boy is on the line
Oh, tell the folks back home this is the Promised Land calling
And the big boy is on the line