I left my home in Norfolk Virginia California on my mind I boarded that Greyhound, Rode in into Raliegh on across Caroline Stopped in Charlotte to by pass Rockhill We never was a minute late We were ninety miles out of Atlanta by sundown Rollin' out of Georgia state We had motor trouble that turned into a struggle Halfway across Alabam And that bow broke down And left us stranded in downtown Birmingham Right away I bought a through train ticket Got across Mississippi clean And I was on that Midnight Flyer out of Birmingham Smokin' into New Orleans Somebody help me get out of Louisiana Help me get to Houston Town There are people there who care a little 'bout me And won't put the poor boy down Georgia born, they bought me a silk suit And put luggage in my hand And woke up high over Albuquerque On a jet to the promised land Workin' on a T-bone ala cartee Flyin' over to the Golden State When the pilot told us in thirteen minutes He would set us at the terminal gate Swing low chariot, come down easy Taxi to the terminal door 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 all the folks back home It's the promised land callin' And the poor boy is on the line