My daddy said, son, put your guitar down
We gotta build some fence, gotta plow some ground
I told my daddy, "try and understand..."
"This John Deere tractor don't fit my plan"

And I hit the road
Chasin' down a dream
And I need a little help
You see, I'm tryin' to get to New Orleans

Sidetracked up in Illinois
I'm not that smart, I'm an innocent boy
She called me baby, she called me honey
She called a cab and took away my money

On the road again
Somewhere south of Moline
And I need a little help
You see I'm tryin' to get to New Orleans

Don't know why I gotta go
If I don't try, I'll never know
About étouffée and Cajun queens
You know, I need a little help
You see I'm tryin' to get to New Orleans

Don't know why I gotta go
If I don't try, I'll never know
About étouffée and Cajun queens
You know, I need a little help
You see I'm tryin' to get to New Orleans

I hocked my watch, bought a burger and fries
Tried to pretend it was red beans and rice
Midnight in Memphis, hello to Graceland
Next stop...Louisian'
And I'm on the road, chasin' down a dream
And I need a little help
You see I'm tryin' to get to New Orleans

Yeah, I need a little help
You see I'm tryin' to get to New Orleans

I'm just an old, poor boy, chasin' down a dream
And I need a little help
You see I'm tryin' to get to New Orleans

Tryin' to get to New Orleans
And I need a little help
You see I'm tryin' to get to New Orleans

You know, I need a little help
You see I'm tryin' to get to New Orleans