Hello L.A., Bye Bye Birmingham

(album: Song Painter - 1970)

I packed everything I own and I put it in a knapsack
Leaving Birmingham, yes, I am, ain't never gonna look back
I bought me a guitar and wrote me a song
Played it to the DJ on the telephone

Now I'm going out to Hollywood, feeling good, yes, I am
Hello L.A., bye-bye Birmingham

I'm riding on a Greyhound bus across the Tennessee borderline
Eating up a po' boy sandwich, sneaking drinks from a quart of wine
I got to get off at the next stop
Ticket's only good to Little Rock

But I'm going out to Hollywood, feeling good, yes, I am
Woo, hello L.A., bye-bye Birmingham

Well, I got mixed up with a big city woman in Little Rock
Had to spend a week one night in the county jail
I had to take a two-day job to get my guitar outta hock
But that's the way it goes when you ain't got the dough to make bail

Knock me out
I done run out of transportation funds, I had to hitchhike
I caught a ride with a long-haired tattooed dude on a motorbike
And folks are gonna know that I'm in town
Heads are gonna turn when they hear my sound

I'm going out to Hollywood, feeling good, yes, I am
Oh, hello L.A., bye-bye Birmingham

Woo, hello L.A.
Bye-bye Birmingham
Gonna be a star, yes, I are
Up in Hollywood, California
I'm coming to you, don't you know
Today, Hollywood, tomorrow, the world
Hello L.A., bye-bye Birmingham
Hello L.A., bye-bye Birmingham
Hello L.A., bye-bye Birmingham