The Promised Land

Left my home in Norfolk, Virginia

California on my mind

Straddled that Greyhound and rode it into Raleigh

And all across Caroline

We stopped in Charlotte but we bypassed Rock Hill

We never was a minute late

We was ninety miles out of Atlanta by sundown

Rolling out of Georgia state

Had some motor trouble

That turned into a struggle

Half way across Alabam

That hound broke down and left us all stranded

In downtown Birmingham

So right away I bought me a through train ticket

Ridin' across Mississippi clean

And I was on that Special Flyer out of Birmingham

Smoking into New Orleans

Someone's got to help me get out of Louisiana

Just to help me get to Houston town

There's an uncle there who cares a little 'bout me

And he won't let the poor boy down

He sure as you're born he bought me a silk suit

Put some luggage in my hand

And I woke up high over Albuquerque

On a jet to the Promised Land

Working on a T-bone steak, a la carte

Flying over to the Golden State

When the pilot told us that in thirteen minutes

He would have us at the terminal gate

Swing down chariot, come down easy

Taxi to the terminal dome

Cut your engines and cool your wings

And let me make it to the telephone

Los Angeles give me Norfolk, Virginia

Tidewater four, ten-o-nine

Tell the folks back home this is the Promised Land calling

And the poor boy is on the line

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