I pick up my life,
And take it with me,
And I put it down in Chicago, Detroit, Buffalo, Scranton,
Any place that is North and East,
And not Dixie.
I pick up my life
And take it on the train,
To Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Seattle, Oakland, Salt Lake
Any place that is North and West,
And not South.

I am fed up With Jim Crow laws,
People who are cruel And afraid,
Who lynch and run,
Who are scared of me
And me of them
I pick up my life
And take it away
On a one-way ticket-
Gone up North
Gone out West
Gone!