I left my home in norfolk, virginia, california on my mind   I straddled that greyhound and rode him into raleigh, and on across caroline   I had motor trouble that turned into a struggle, halfway across alabama   And that 'hound broke down and left me all stranded in downtown birmingham         Right away I bought me a through train ticket, ridin' across mississippi clean   And I was on the midnight flyer out of birmingham, smokin' into new orleans         Somebody helped me get out of louisiana, just to help me get to houston town   There are people there who care a little 'bout me   And they won't let a poor boy down         Sure as you're born, they bought me a silk suit, they 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, I had a party flyin' over to the golden state   When the pilot told me in thirteen minutes   He would get us at the terminal zone         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, give me norfolk, virginia, tidewater 41009   And tell the folks back home this is the promised land callin'   And the poor boy's on the line   (repeats 2x)         And tell the folks back home this is the promised land callin'   And their big boy's on the line