The Promised Land Songtext / Lyric

I left my home in Norfolk, Virginia

California on my mind

I straddled that Greyhound and rode him into Raleigh

And on across Caroline



We stopped in Charlotte, we bypassed Rock Hill

We never was a minute late

We was 90 miles out of Atlanta by sundown

Rollin' out of Georgia state



We had motor trouble that turned into a struggle

Halfway across Alabam'

And that 'hound broke down and left us all stranded

In downtown Birmingham



Right away I bought me a through train ticket

Ridin' 'cross Mississippi clean

And I was on that midnight flyer out of Birmingham

Smokin' into New Orleans






Somebody help me get out of Louisiana

Just help me get to Houston town

There are 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

And put luggage in my hands

And I woke up high over Albuquerque

On a jet to the promised land



Workin' on a T-bone steak a la carte

Flying over to the Golden State

When the pilot told us in 13 minutes

He would set us at the terminal gate



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 4-1009

Tell the folks back home this is the promised land callin'

And the poor boy's on the line