C5                F5                G5
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
G|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
D|-5-5-7-5-5-5-7-5-|-----------------|-----------------|
A|-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-|-3-3-5-3-3-3-5-3-|-5-5-7-5-5-5-7-5-|
E|-----------------|-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-|-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-|


[Intro]
C

[Verse 1]
C5
I left my home in Norfolk Virginia,
                   F5
California on my mind.
   G5
We straddled that Greyhound, rode him into Raleigh,
                  C5
On across Caroline.

[Verse 2]
C5
We stopped at Charlotte and bypassed Rock Hill,
                          F5
We never was a minute late.
           G5
And we was ninety miles out of Atlanta by sundown,
                          C5
Rollin' outa Georgia state.

[Verse 3]
C5
We had motor trouble it turned into a struggle,
                   F5
Half way 'cross Alabam,
           G5
When that 'hound broke down and left us all stranded
                      C5
In downtown Birmingham.

[Guitar Solo]
C5   F5 G5
C5   F5 G5   C5

[Verse 4]
C5
So right away I bought me a through train ticket,
                          F5
Right across Mississippi clean
          G5
And I was on that midnight flyer outa Birmingham
                   C5
Smoking into New Orleans.

[Verse 5]
C5
Somebody help me get out of Louisiana
                             F5
Just help me get to Houston town.
               G5
Well there are people there who care a little 'bout me
                                C5
And they won't let the poor boy down.

[Verse 6]
C5
Sure as you're born, they bought me a silk suit,
                  F5
Put luggage in my hands,
      G5
And I woke up high over Albuquerque
                             C5
On a jet to the promised land.

[Guitar Solo]
C5   F5 G5  C5

[Verse 7]
C5
Workin' on a T-bone steak a la carte
                          F5
Flying over to the Golden State;
         G5
When the pilot told us in thirteen minutes
                                    C5
He would set us at the terminal gate.

[Verse 7]
C5
Swing low chariot, come down easy
                     F5
Taxi to the terminal zone;
G5
Cut your engines, an cool your wings,
                              C5
And let me make it to the telephone.

[Verse 8]
C5
Los Angeles give me Norfolk Virginia,
                      F5
Dial forty four ten O nine
             G5
And tell the folks back home this is the promised land
                                      C
Callin' and the poor boy's on the line.