Aw, get on it I left my home in Norfolk, Virginia California on my mind I straddled that Greyhound and rode him into Raleigh And on across Caroline We had motor trouble that turned into a struggle Halfway across Alabam' Well, that 'hound broke down and left us all stranded In downtown Birmingham Right away I bought me a through train ticket Right across Mississippi clean I was on that midnight flyer out of Birmingham Smokin' 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 about me And they won't let the poor boy down Take it 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 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 set us at the terminal gate 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, get me Norfolk, Virginia Tidewater 4-1009 Tell the folks back home this is the promised land callin' And the poor boy is on the line 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 set us at the terminal gate 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, get me Norfolk, Virginia Tidewater 4-1009 Tell the folks back home this is the promised land callin' And the poor boy is on the line