James Taylor — 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 Long distance information