He was standing on the highway

Somewhere way out in the sticks

Guitar across his shoulder

Like a 30 ought six

He was staring in my headlights

When I come around the bend

Climbed up on my shotgun side

And told me with a grin

Chorus:

I'm going to New York City

I never really been there

Just like the way it sounds

I heard the girls are pretty

There must be something happening there

It's just too big a town



He was cold and wet and hungry

But he never did complain

Said he'd come a thousand miles

Through sleet and snow and rain

He had a hundred stories

About the places that he'd been

He'd hang around a little while

And hit the road again



Chorus



See I've been to New York City

Seems like it was yesterday

I was standing like a pilgrim

On the Great White Way

The girls were really pretty

But they wouldn't talk to me

I held out about a week

Went back to Tennessee



So, I thought I'd better warn him

As he climbed out of my car

Grabbed his battered suitcase

And shouldered his guitar

I knew I was just jealous

If I didn't wish him well

I slipped the kid a twenty

Said 'Billy give 'em hell'



Chorus x 2