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