Promised Land
Elvis Presley Lyrics

I left my home in Norfolk Virginia
I departed from my hometown of Norfolk, Virginia.

California on my mind
I was thinking about California and had a strong desire to go there.

I straddled that Greyhound
I boarded a Greyhound bus.

And rode into Raleigh and on across Caroline
I traveled through Raleigh and across the state of North Carolina.

We had motor trouble that turn into a struggle
Our vehicle experienced mechanical difficulties which became a difficult situation for us.

Halfway across Alabama
We had traveled halfway through the state of Alabama.

And that hound broke down and left us all stranded
The Greyhound bus broke down and we were all left without transportation.

In downtown Birmingham
We were stranded in the downtown area of Birmingham, Alabama.

Right away I brought me a through train ticket
Immediately, I purchased a train ticket that would take me all the way through to my destination.

Ridin' across Mississippi clean
As I traveled through Mississippi, everything was going smoothly.

I was on that midnight flyer out of Birmingham
I departed on a nighttime flight out of Birmingham.

Smoking into New Orleans
The flight was headed towards New Orleans and I was smoking on the plane.

Somebody help me get out of Louisiana
I need someone to assist me in leaving Louisiana.

Just help me get to Houston Town
Please assist me in getting to Houston.

There are people there, who care a little about me
I know people in Houston who have some level of concern for me.

And they won't let the poor boy down
And they will not disappoint me, even though I may be considered lower-class or disadvantaged.

Sure as you're born brought me a silk suit
I was certainly able to obtain a nice silk suit.

Put luggage in my hand
Someone handed me my luggage.

And I woke up high over Albuquerque
I woke up while we were flying high over Albuquerque, New Mexico.

On a jet to the promised land
I was on a plane headed towards the land of opportunity, the place of my dreams.

Working on a T-bone steak a la carte
I was eating a delicious T-bone steak with various side dishes.

Flying over to the golden state
I was flying over to the state of California, the golden state of the west coast.

When the pilot told us in thirteen minutes
The pilot announced that in thirteen minutes, we would be arriving at our destination.

He would set us at the terminal gate
The pilot would land the plane and bring us to the airport terminal gate.

Swing low chariot come down easy
I reference the gospel song 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,' asking for an easy arrival to my destination.

Taxi to the terminal zone
The plane was taxiing to the airport terminal zone.

Cut your engines and cool your wings
The plane's engines should be shut down and the wings should be allowed to cool.

And let me make it to the telephone
Please allow me to reach the phone so I can call someone.

Los Angeles give me Norfolk Virginia
I'm asking for someone in Los Angeles to connect me to Norfolk, Virginia.

Tidewater four ten o nine
I'm providing a phone number to the person in Los Angeles that starts with an area code for the Tidewater region of Virginia.

Tell the folks back home this is the promised land calling
Let my family and friends know that I've made it to the place I've always wanted to be.

And the poor boy is on the line
I'm the poor boy who is making this call and I'm happy to share my success with those back home.