[Verse 1]
I'm sailin', sailin'
Place I've never seen
That's way down south
Sweet ol' New Orleans
'Cause my hometown friend treats me awful mean

[Verse 2]
If I could holler, yeah, holler
If I could scream and cry
It hurts me so
When I look up in the sky
'Cause my friends turn their heads
As they pass me by

[Verse 3]
Now it's rainin', it's rainin'
The wind's blowin' cold
Lord, I thought I heard
My train whistle blow
Now I'm gonna sail so far
'Til I won't be back no more

[Instrumental Break]

[Verse 4]
Pardon me, pardon me
It's so hard to stand
I ain't got no money
Uncle Sam has called my man
Now there's not a soul
To give me a helpin' hand