Well, thousands of folks back east, they say Are leavin' home most every day They're beatin' the hot ol' dusty way To the California line Across the desert sands they roll A-gettin' outta that ol' dust bowl They think they're goin' to a sugar bowl But here is what they find: The police at the port of entry say "You're number 14,000 for today CHORUS: If you ain't got the Do Re Mi, boys If you ain't got that Do Re Mi Oh, you'd better go back to beautiful Texas Oklahoma, Georgia, Kansas, Tennessee
California is a garden of Eden A paradise to live in or see But believe it or not, you won't find it so hot If you ain't got the Do Re Mi Well, if you want to buy you a home or farm That can't deal nobody harm Or take your vacations by the mountains or the sea Don't swap your old cow for a car; You'd better stay right where you are You better take this little tip from me 'Cause I look through the want ads every day And the headlines in the papers always say: (Chorus)