I was up in New York City just the other week

You should've seen the waitress's 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

or when I say yes ma'am

They act like I 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 changing' who I am

That's the way I've always been

No matter what state I'm in

I'm in a southern state of mind

I'm always walking' round telling' everybody hi

Just a wavin' at the strangers in the cars passing' by

Some people may look at me and say

"that boy just ain't right"

Hey y'all 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

if you don't then your still 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

Ball cap, boots and jeans and a little southern drawl

I could 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

A southern state of mind