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 told me with a grin

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, never did complain
Said he'd come a thousand miles through sleet and snow and rain
He had a hundred stories 'bout the places that he'd been
He'd hang around a little while and hit the road again

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

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 and I climbed out of my car
Grabbed his battered suitcase, 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"

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

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

Going to New York City
Going to New York City
Going to New York City