[ Featuring the Howlers ]
Left my home in Norfolk, Virginia, California on my mind
I straddled that Greyhound and rode it into Raleigh and on across Caroline
Stopped in Charlotte and bypassed Rock Hill
Never was a minute late
Ninety miles out of Atlanta by sundown
Rolling outta Georgia state
Had motor trouble, it turned into a struggle
Halfway across Alabam'
And that 'hound broke down and left us all stranded
In downtown Birmingham
Right away, bought me a through train ticket
Riding across Mississippi clean
I was on that midnight flier out of Birmingham
Smoking into New Orleans
Somebody help me get out of Louisiana
Help me get to Houston town
Cause there's people there who care a little about 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
All right, Danny!
Working on a T-bone steak à la carte
Flying over to the Golden State
When the pilot told us in thirteen minutes
He would set us at the terminal gate
Swing low chariot, get on 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 four ten oh nine
Tell all the folks back home this is the Promised Land calling
And the poor boy's on the line
Tell all the folks at home this is the Promised Land calling
And the poor boy's on the line"
