Lots of folks back East, they say, is leavin' home every day

Beatin' the hot old dusty way to the California line

'Cross the desert sands they roll, gettin' out of that old dust bowl

They think they're goin' to a sugar bowl but here's what they find

Now the police at the port of entry say

"You're number fourteen thousand for today"

Oh, if you ain't got the do re mi folks you ain't got the do re mi

While you better go back to beautiful Texas

Oklahoma, Kansas, Georgia, Tennessee

California is a garden of Eden, a paradise to live in or see

But believe it or not you won't find it so hot

If you ain't got the do re mi

You want to buy you a home or a farm that can't deal nobody harm

Or take your vacation by the mountains or sea

Don't swap your old cow for a car, you better stay right where you are

You better take this little tip from me

'Cause I look through the want ads every day

But the headlines on the papers always say

If you ain't got the do re mi boys you ain't got the do re mi

While you better go back to beautiful Texas

Oklahoma, Kansas, Georgia, Tennessee

California is a garden of Eden, a paradise to live in or see

But believe it or not you won't find it so hot

If you ain't got the d