Promised Land
Chuck Berry Lyrics


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I left my home in Norfolk Virginia
California on my mind
I Straddled that Greyhound,
and rolled in into Raleigh and all across Carolina

Stopped in Charlotte and bypassed Rock Hill
And we never was a minute late
We was ninety miles out of Atlanta by sundown
Rollin' out of Georgia state

We had motor trouble it turned into a struggle,
Half way 'cross Alabam
And that 'hound broke down and left us all stranded
In downtown Birmingham

Right away, I bought me a through train ticket
Ridin' cross Mississippi clean
And I was on that midnight flier out of Birmingham
Smoking into New Orleans

Somebody help me get out of Louisiana
Just help me get to Houston town
There are people there who care a little 'bout me
And they won't let the poor boy down

Sure as you're born, they bought me a silk suit
Put luggage in my hands,
And I woke up high over Albuquerque
On a jet to the promised land

Workin' on a T-bone steak a la carte
Flying over to the Golden State
Oh when The pilot told me in thirteen minutes
We'd be headin' in the terminal gate

Swing low chariot, come down easy
Taxi to the terminal zone
Cut your engines, 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 callin'
And the poor boy's on the line

Overall Meaning

The song Promised Land by Chuck Berry is a musical representation of the American Dream. It talks about a journey from Norfolk Virginia, where the singer originates from, to California, where the 'promised land' is. The journey was made by straddling a Greyhound bus, which broke down midway through the journey in Birmingham, Alabama, leading to the purchase of a through train ticket. The singer expresses a longing to escape Louisiana and be in Houston town where they have people who care about them.


The song paints a picture of a journey and a struggle towards a better life, with some of the lyrics evoking themes of resistance, perseverance, and hope. Berry describes a man who is on a journey to reach his dream, but has to face many challenges like motor trouble and being stranded, before he ultimately reaches California, the 'promised land'. It is not just the journey that makes the song appealing but also its underlying message. The song's meaning is considered to be "a Black man's yearning for both a better life and a America free of the stereotypes that have dogged him."


Line by Line Meaning

I left my home in Norfolk Virginia
I departed my hometown in Norfolk, Virginia


California on my mind
I was thinking about heading to California


I Straddled that Greyhound,
I got on a Greyhound bus


and rolled in into Raleigh and all across Carolina
I traveled and stopped in various cities across North and South Carolina


Stopped in Charlotte and bypassed Rock Hill
I took a pause in Charlotte and passed by Rock Hill


And we never was a minute late
We made sure we were on schedule


We was ninety miles out of Atlanta by sundown
We were almost 100 miles away from Atlanta when the sun went down


Rollin' out of Georgia state
We left the state of Georgia


We had motor trouble it turned into a struggle,
We encountered some engine issues which caused a big problem


Half way 'cross Alabam
We were traveling through Alabama when the trouble began


And that 'hound broke down and left us all stranded
The bus broke down, leaving all of us with nowhere to go


In downtown Birmingham
We were stranded in the downtown area of Birmingham


Right away, I bought me a through train ticket
Immediately, I purchased a ticket for a through train


Ridin' cross Mississippi clean
I traveled across Mississippi smoothly


And I was on that midnight flier out of Birmingham
I caught the midnight flight out of Birmingham


Smoking into New Orleans
I arrived in New Orleans by plane


Somebody help me get out of Louisiana
I needed assistance to leave Louisiana


Just help me get to Houston town
I just needed help getting to Houston


There are people there who care a little 'bout me
I have some people who care about me in Houston


And they won't let the poor boy down
They will not disappoint me


Sure as you're born, they bought me a silk suit
They bought me a silk suit for sure


Put luggage in my hands,
They gave me some luggage to hold


And I woke up high over Albuquerque
I woke up on a plane flying over Albuquerque


On a jet to the promised land
I was on a plane to the place I've been waiting for


Workin' on a T-bone steak a la carte
I was enjoying a T-bone steak prepared to my specifications


Flying over to the Golden State
I was flying over to California


Oh when The pilot told me in thirteen minutes
The pilot informed me that we would land in thirteen minutes


We'd be headin' in the terminal gate
We would be heading towards the airport terminal gate


Swing low chariot, come down easy
A reference to the spiritual song Swing Low, Sweet Chariot urging for an easy descent


Taxi to the terminal zone
The plane taxied to the terminal area


Cut your engines, cool your wings
The engines were shut down and the wings were allowed to cool


And let me make it to the telephone
And let me reach the telephone


Los Angeles give me Norfolk Virginia
I wanted to call from Los Angeles to Norfolk, Virginia


Tidewater four ten O nine
Tidewater, a region near Norfolk with an area code of 410 and phone number 09


Tell the folks back home this is the promised land callin'
Let those at home know that I have made it to the place I've been waiting for


And the poor boy's on the line
I am on the phone, speaking as the poor boy who has made it to the promised land




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Chuck Berry

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

eddie dawson

I don't care what anyone says, Chuck Berry was the rock n roll poet. He not only revolutionized the guitar riff, but he also wrote fantastic lyrics. His lyrics made sense and yet were still fun.

IcanFartLOUD

He "borrowed" JBGoode guitar riff from and old big band r@b song

Marvalous Marvin

One of the greatest lyricists of all times.

mike8903

Seriously. I was just thinking that. Masterclass in storytelling

Marvalous Marvin

@mike8903 GMTA

Bob Beck

The best, out on his own

Furball2k

Rock N' Roll Owes Everything To This Man!!!

Rene Lagunas

Don't you know? Ike Turner invented Rock-n-Roll!!!!

tina

I 💸💸💸💸🐝💸💸💸💸👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

A J

@ImperialRadioYT Fats Domino says hi

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