Lyrics The Promised Land - James Taylor

The Promised Land

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