E
Left my home in Norfolk, Virginia,
                 A
California on my mind.
B
I straddled that Greyhound, rode him into Raleigh,
                  E
And on across Caroline.


[Verse 2]

E
We stopped in Charlotte but bypassed Rock Hill,
                          A
And we never was a minute late.
B
We was ninety miles out of Atlanta by sundown,
                           E
Rollin' out of Georgia state.


[Verse 3]

E
We had motor trouble, it turned into a struggle,
                   A
Half way 'cross Alabam,
B
And that 'hound broke down and left us all stranded
                   E
In downtown Birmingham.


[Verse 4]

E
Right away, I bought me a through-train ticket,
                         A
Right 'cross Mississippi clean
B
And I was on that midnight flyer out of Birmingham
                   E
Smoking into New Orleans.


[Verse 5]

E
Somebody help me get out of Louisiana
                               A
Just to help me get to Houston Town
B
There are people there who care a little about me
                                E
And they won't let the poor boy down


[Verse 6]

E
Sure as you're born they bought me a silk suit
                  A
Put luggage in my hand
B
And I woke up high over Alburquerque
                         E
On a jet to the promised land


[Verse 7]

E
Working on a T-bone steak a la carte
                          A
Flying over to the Golden State
B
When the pilot told us in thirteen minutes
                                E
He would set us at the terminal gate


[Verse 8]

E
Swing low chariot come down easy
                     A
Taxi to the terminal zone
B
Cut your engines and cool your wings
                              E
And let me make it to the telephone


[Verse 9]

E
Los Angeles, give me No'folk, V'ginia
                     A
Tidewater four ten o nine
B
Tell the folks back home this is the promised land calling
                           E
And the poor boy is on the line