I left my home in Norfolk Virginia, California on my mind. Straddled that Greyhound, rode him to Raleigh, On across Caroline.
Stopped on Charlotte and bypassed Rock Hill, And we never was a minute late. We was ninety miles out of Atlanta by sundown, Rollin' 'cross the Georgia state.
We had motor trouble it turned into a struggle, Half way 'cross Alabama, And that 'hound broke down and left us all stranded In downtown Birmingham.
Straight off, I bought me a through train ticket, Ridin' cross Mississippi clean And I was on that midnight flyer out of Birmingham Smoking into New Orleans.
Somebody help me get out of Louisiana Just help me get to Houston town. There's 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.