I was up in New York City,
just the other week.
You shoulda seen the waiters face when I ordered sweet tea.
She said "we don't have that here"
and I apologized, I said "Please forgive me,
I'm in a southern state of mind."

And those girls out in California,
they don't understand.
They don't like it when I hold the door,
when I say yes ma'am.
They act like I've done something wrong,
and they give me the evil eye.
I say "honey, I'm sorry,
I'm in a southern state of mind."

I could be anywhere
in my heart I'm always there.
Where they drink sweet tea and they raise you to be polite.
No changin' who I am,
that's they way I've always been.
No matter what state I'm in,
I'm in a southern state of mind.

I'm always walkin' 'round
tellin' everybody hi.
Justa wavin' at the strangers
and the cars passin' by.
Some poeple may look at me
and say that boy just ain't right.
Hey ya'll I ain't crazy,
I'm in a southern state of mind.

I could be anywhere
in my heart I'm always there.
Where you know every body and you don't think it's too polite.
No changin' who I am, that's they way I've always been.
No matter what state I'm in, I'm in a southern state of mind.

You can see it in the clothes I wear,
you can hear it when I talk.
Ballcap boots and jeans and a little southern draw.
I can be up in Ohio or back home in Caroline.
No matter what state I'm in, I'm in a southern state of mind.
Don't matter what state I'm in, I'm in a southern state of mind.

Yeah, alright.

Southern state of mind.
Come on, come on.
Oh oh.