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