| I left my home in Norfolk, Virginia
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| California on my mind
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| Straddled that Greyhound
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| Rode him in the Raleigh
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| And on across Caroline
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| We had motor trouble it turned into a struggle
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| Half way across Alabam'
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| And that 'hound broke down and left us all stranded
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| In downtown Birmingham
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| Right away, I brought me a through train ticket
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| Ridin' cross Mississippi clean
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| I was on that midnight flyer out of Birmingham
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| Smokin' into New Orleans
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| Somebody help me get out of Louisiana
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| Just help me get to Houston town
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| There are people there who care a little 'bout me
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| And they won’t let the poor boy down
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| Sure as you’re born, they bought me a silk suit
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| Put a luggage in my hands
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| And I woke up high over Albuquerque
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| On a jet to the promised land
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| Workin' on a t-bone steak a la carte
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| Flyin' over to the Golden State
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| And the pilot told us in thirteen minutes
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| He would send us to the terminal gate
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| Ah, swing low, chariot, come down easy
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| Taxi to the terminal zone
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| Cut your engines and cool your wings
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| And let me make it to the telephone | 
| Los Angeles give me Norfolk, Virginia
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| Tidewater four-ten-oh-nine
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| Tell the folks back home this is the promised land calling
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| And the poor boy’s on the line
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| Workin' on a t-bone steak a la carte
 | 
| Flyin' over to the Golden State
 | 
| And the pilot told us in thirteen minutes
 | 
| He would send us to 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
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| Los Angeles give me Norfolk, Virginia
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| Tidewater four-ten-oh-nine
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| Tell the folks back home this is the promised land calling
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| And the poor boy’s on the line |