Promised Land
Berry
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
By passed Rock Hill
We never was a minute late
We was ninety miles out of Atlanta by
Sundown rollin' out of Georgia State
We had motor trouble that
Turn 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 got across 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 'bout
Me and won't let the poor boy down
Sure as you're born they bought me a
Silk suit put luggage in my hand
And I woke up hight over Albuquerque on
A jet to the Promised land
Workin' on a T-bone steak à la carte
Flyin' over to the Golden State
When the pilot told us in 13 minutes he
Would set us at the terminal gate
Swing low sweet 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-o-nine
Tell the folks back home this
Is the promised land
Callin' and the poor boy's on the line
