Lots of folks back East, they say, is leaving home every day
Beating the hot old dusty way to the California line
Across the desert sands they roll, getting out of that old dust bowl
They think they're going 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
Why, 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
Better take this little tip from me
Because 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
Why, 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