Well, out of Southern Illinois   Come a down home country boy   He gonna make it in the city   Playin' guitar in the studio      Oh well, he hadn't been there an hour   When he met a Broadway flower   You know she took him for his money   And she left him in a cheap hotel      Oh well, it's easy for you to see   That that country boy is me   Say and how am I ever gonna break the news   To the folks back home      Well, I was gonna be a great success   Things sure ended up a mess   But in the process I got messed up too      But hello Mama and Dad I had to call collect   'Cause I ain't got a cent to my name   Well, I'm sleepin' in the hotel doorway   And tonight they say it's gonna rain      And if you'd only send me some money   Oh, I'll be back on my feet again   Send it in care of the Sunday Mission   Box number ten      Well back in Southern Illinois   They're still worryin' 'bout their boy   But this boy's goin' home   Soon as he gets the fare      Because as soon as I got my bread   I got a pipe upside my head   You know they left me in an alley   Took my money and my guitar, too      And hello Mama and Dad I had to call collect   'Cause I ain't got a cent to my name   Well, I'm sleepin' in the hotel doorway   And tonight they say it's gonna rain      And if you'd only send me some money   Oh, I'll be back on my feet again   Send it in care of the Sunday Mission   Box number ten