Promised Land - Johnnie Allan

I left my home in Norfolk, Virginia

California on my mind

Straddled that Greyhound

Rode him in the Raleigh

And on across Caroline

We had motor trouble it turned into a struggle

Half way across Alabam'

And that 'hound broke down and left us all stranded

In downtown Birmingham

Right away, I brought me a through train ticket

Ridin' cross Mississippi clean

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 'bout me

And they won’t let the poor boy down

Sure as you’re born, they bought me a silk suit

Put a 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

Flyin' over to the Golden State

And the pilot told us in thirteen minutes

He would send us to the terminal gate

Ah, 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 four-ten-oh-nine

Tell the folks back home this is the promised land calling

And the poor boy’s on the line

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

Los Angeles give me Norfolk, Virginia

Tidewater four-ten-oh-nine

Tell the folks back home this is the promised land calling

And the poor boy’s on the line