Promised Land

I left my home in Norfolk Virginia,

California on my mind.

We straddled that Greyhound, rode him into Raleigh,

On across Caroline.

We stopped at Charlotte and bypassed Rock Hill,

We never was a minute late.

And we was ninety miles out of Atlanta by sundown,

Rollin' outa Georgia state.

We had motor trouble it turned into a struggle,

Half way 'cross Alabam,

When that 'hound broke down and left us all stranded

In downtown Birmingham.

So right away I bought me a through train ticket,

Right across Mississippi clean

And I was on that midnight flyer outa Birmingham

Smoking into New Orleans.

Somebody help me get out of Louisiana

Just help me get to Houston town.

Well there are people there who care a little 'bout me

And they won't let the poor boy down.

Sure as you're born, they bought me a silk suit,

Put luggage in my hands,

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 thirteen minutes

He would set us at the terminal gate.

Swing low chariot, come down easy

Taxi to the terminal zone;

Cut your engines, an cool your wings,

And let me make it to the telephone.

Los Angeles give me Norfolk Virginia,

Dial forty four ten O nine

And tell the folks back home this is the promised land

Callin'

And the poor boy's on the line.