I left my home in Norfolk VirginianCalifornia on my mindnI boarded that Greyhound, nRode in into Raliegh on across CarolinennStopped in Charlotte to by pass RockhillnWe never was a minute latenWe were ninety miles out of Atlanta by sundownnRollin' out of Georgia statennWe had motor trouble that turned into a strugglenHalfway across AlabamnAnd that bow broke downnAnd left us stranded in downtown BirminghamnnRight away I bought a through train ticketnGot across Mississippi cleannAnd I was on that Midnight Flyer out of BirminghamnSmokin' into New OrleansnnSomebody help me get out of LouisiananHelp me get to Houston TownnnThere are people there who care a little 'bout menAnd won't put the poor boy downnGeorgia born, they bought me a silk suitnAnd put luggage in my handnnAnd woke up high over AlbuquerquenOn a jet to the promised landnWorkin' on a T-bone ala carteenFlyin' over to the Golden StatennWhen the pilot told us in thirteen minutesnHe would set us at the terminal gatenSwing low chariot, come down easynTaxi to the terminal doornnCut your engines and cool your wingsnAnd let me make it to the telephonenLos Angeles, give me Norfolk VirginianTidewater four ten o ninennTell all the folks back homenIt's the promised land callin'nAnd the poor boy is on the line