Promised Land
Allan Johnnie Lyrics
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California on my mind
I straddled that Greyhound
And rode into Raleigh
And on across Caroline
We had motor trouble that turn into a struggle
Halfway across Alabam'
In downtown Birmingham
Right away I brought me a through train ticket
Ridin' across Mississippi clean
And I was on that midnight flyer out of Birmingham
Smoking into New Orleans
Somebody help me get out of Louisiana
Just to help me get to Houston Town
There are people there who care a little about me
And they won't let the poor boy down
Sure as you're born brought me a silk suit
Put luggage in my hand
And I woke up high over Alburquerque
On a jet to the promised land
Working on a T-bone steak a la carte
Flying over to the golden state
Ah when the pilot told us in thirteen minutes
He would set us at the terminal gate
Swing low chariot come down easy
Taxi to the terminal zone
Cut your engines and cool your wings
And let me make it to the telephone
Los Angeles give me Norfolk Virginia
Tidewater four ten o nine
Tell the folks back home this is the promised land calling
And the poor boy is on the line
Working on a T-bone steak a la carte
Flying over to the golden state
Ah when the pilot told us in thirteen minutes
He would set us at the terminal gate
Swing low chariot come down easy
Taxi to the terminal zone
Cut your engines and cool your wings
And let me make it to the telephone
Los Angeles give me Norfolk Virginia
Tidewater four ten o nine
Tell the folks back home this is the promised land calling
And the poor boy is on the line
The song "Promised Land" by Allan Johnnie is a narrative story of a man who journeys from his home in Norfolk, Virginia, to California, in search of a better life. The man travels by bus, train, and plane, and encounters various troubles along the way. He ends up finding the promised land, but he does not forget his roots and contacts his hometown. The song speaks to the American Dream, and the hope of finding a better life by making a courageous journey.
The lyrics are vivid and full of imagery. The song begins with the singer leaving his home in Virginia with California on his mind. He takes a Greyhound bus and encounters trouble in Alabama when the bus breaks down. But he keeps going and takes a train, and then a plane to get to his destination. The chorus repeats "Swing low chariot come down easy / Taxi to the terminal zone / Cut your engines and cool your wings / And let me make it to the telephone / Los Angeles give me Norfolk Virginia / Tidewater four ten o nine / Tell the folks back home this is the promised land calling / And the poor boy is on the line."
Overall, "Promised Land" is a hopeful and inspiring song about chasing dreams and never giving up. It tells a story of perseverance and resilience. The song is timeless and has been covered by many artists over the years, including Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, and Bruce Springsteen.
Line by Line Meaning
I left my home in Norfolk Virginia
He began his journey from his hometown of Norfolk Virginia.
California on my mind
He was dreaming of moving to California.
I straddled that Greyhound And rode into Raleigh And on across Caroline
He boarded a Greyhound bus and rode from Norfolk VA to Raleigh NC, then across the state of South Carolina.
We had motor trouble that turn into a struggle Halfway across Alabam'
The bus broke down in Alabama and caused a lot of problems.
And that hound broke down and left us all stranded In downtown Birmingham
The bus broke down in Birmingham and everyone was left stranded there.
Right away I brought me a through train ticket Ridin' across Mississippi clean
He quickly got a train ticket and traveled through Mississippi.
And I was on that midnight flyer out of Birmingham Smoking into New Orleans
He took a late-night flight out of Birmingham and arrived in New Orleans.
Somebody help me get out of Louisiana Just to help me get to Houston Town There are people there who care a little about me And they won't let the poor boy down
He asks for help to get from Louisiana to Houston where he has some friends who will take care of him.
Sure as you're born brought me a silk suit Put luggage in my hand And I woke up high over Alburquerque On a jet to the promised land
He was gifted a new silk suit and suddenly found himself on a plane headed to the promised land (California).
Working on a T-bone steak a la carte Flying over to the golden state Ah when the pilot told us in thirteen minutes He would set us at the terminal gate
He was enjoying a delicious meal while flying over to California and was excited to land in just 13 minutes.
Swing low chariot come down easy Taxi to the terminal zone Cut your engines and cool your wings And let me make it to the telephone
He implores the plane to land safely, taxi to the gate, and for the engines to be turned off so he can call someone.
Los Angeles give me Norfolk Virginia Tidewater four ten o nine Tell the folks back home this is the promised land calling And the poor boy is on the line
He calls his hometown of Norfolk Virginia and tells them he is in the promised land (California).
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANDREAS BEHLE, CHRISTIAN KUNDSCHAFT, MIKE REJCHEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@goddessmerveille783
I like to point out that Chuck's classic and fantastic song, a seemingly jaunty and happy road trip number is a subtle allusion to the Freedom Riders of the Civil Rights movement, who in 1961 who helped integrate the interstate busses in the south, after decades old SCOTUS decisions for equality were not being enforced. Most people don't catch the references. In the "bypassed Rockhill," town of South Carolina the late great John Lewis was attacked on the very first Freedom Ride. It was the start of a journey filled with horrific organized racist mob violence that was often condoned by local and state law enforcement.
A firebomb was thrown on the bus in Alabama and then the doors blocked, hoping to burn the passengers alive. The "motor trouble that turned into a struggle" may reference the resulting firebomb-caused gas tank explosion at the back of the bus that provided the break in the forced door-closing that surely saved the passengers' lives when the mob backed off temporarily. In "downtown Birmingham" the riders were also attacked as police chief Bull Connor stood by passively while a KKK-led mob beat exiting riders with baseball bats, iron pipes and bicycle chains, an episode that was repeated many times over the coming "Freedom Summer" with other rides across other southern states. An FBI informant was among the members of the violent mob in Birmingham, and even JFK's deal with governors allowed for protection on the highways but not in the cities for the protesters, where often black and white freedom riders were beaten unconscious, then jailed, convicted and imprisoned for exercising their court and constitutionally established rights.
The original ride, just like traveler in the song, had to switch tactics and methods of transport to get to New Orleans and beyond, skipping Mississippi "clean," with the help of friends enlisted to aid quickly, bringing riders to New Orleans by air and car caravan. Trouble awaited on the return journey to Mississippi. Even the "ninety miles out of Atlanta" might be a nod to the leg where JFK had to strong-arm Alabama's governor into providing the bus with an armed escort and the bus ended up driving 90 MPH as a defensive measure. "Swing low chariot, come down easy" may refer to the songs protesters sang while in jail and prison to show they were not cowed by the police and the racist state authorities.
It's a brilliant song for many reasons, but don't forget the deep genius of Berry, who was continually breaking the color barrier himself by joyously playing to mixed-race crowds of teenagers, who danced in the aisles and tore down ropes and ribbons meant to separate them. Berry quite possibly made his most subversive tune into a national radio hit record while rocking' the house. It's worth noting this was Chuck's first single after serving prison time for The Mann Act violation, an obvious attempt to silence his mighty voice and powerful message.
Which tells us the part that makes it even more rockin' .
He wrote this song in prison, as an incarcerated person in the USA, not knowing if his career, and Rock and Roll itself, often called a passing fad, was finished after Buddy Holly had died, Elvis was forced into the Army, Carl Perkins had a bad car crash, and Little Richard had experienced a religious conversion. Jerry Lee Lewis was beset by a "teenage wedding" scandal, another song Berry may have been using to comment on the politics of rock and roll. "C'est la vie, say the old folks it goes to show you never can tell."
Berry emerged from prison unrepentant and went on to a stellar career with dozens of stunning highlights. He changed the world, with his guitar and a devil's smile. And that, as we say (because he showed us how) is Rock and Roll. Roll over, Beethoven and Let it Rock.
@ruthdixon7807
johnnie allan forgets one whole verse of chuck berry's classic, and you can hear his band members falling about behind him; and it's just perfect.
@NSYresearch
Much as I love the Chuck Berry version of this .... Johnnie Allan rocks this ... BEST EVER !
@johndean4765
Agree this is the best version with the great beat of the guitar and the accordion driving it along.
@00Manifesto
Best version.
@strumminstevejackson344
Best version of this classic Chuck song.
@jamespcrown128
Brilliant. He outperformed the teacher on this one.
@cliffordyawn2787
Man listen to that accordion. Wow. Nice cover. Love it
@kimtodd1202
Ya right Clifford, tho it's a squeezebox not an accordion. And i love it!
@wingobingo
Not many chuck berry covers piss over the original!!! Mindblowing awesome!! N
@RoseangleWarrior
I concur my friend.