Delbert McClinton and Glen Clark had been knocking around the Texas rock sc… Read Full Bio ↴Delbert McClinton and Glen Clark had been knocking around the Texas rock scene for more than a decade before teaming up in California for a couple of albums in the early 1970s. The first of these, Delbert & Glen is, despite their California transplantation, very much a Texas record, blending blues, country, soul, gospel, and rock & roll. The feel of the album is very much that of a seasoned bar band, albeit a bar band with mostly original material. It wasn't the kind of thing that was going to set the charts afire in 1972, though surprisingly enough the pensive ballad "I Received a Letter" sneaked into the bottom of the Top 100. There's an amiable young-veteran air to the record, though it's weighed down some by a few routine straight blues workouts. Several of the songs might be more familiar to some listeners in different versions: the Blues Brothers did "'B' Movie Box Car Blues," Rita Coolidge had already done "I Feel the Burden (Being Lifted Off My Shoulders)," Bonnie Raitt (with whom Clark would play keyboards) did "Sugar Daddy" (as "Sugar Mama"), and McClinton himself would remake "Ain't What You Eat but the Way How You Chew It," "'B' Movie Box Car Blues," and "I Received a Letter" on his solo albums.

Peace In The Valley
Delbert & Glen Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

There's a chapel in the valley
In the valley of my dreams
And the organ?s playing just for you and me
There's a choir in the chapel

In my reverie it seems
I can hear their voices sing, "Oh, promise me"
My heart began to falter

As the bells began to chime

We knelt before the altar
For it was our wedding time
It was there we made a promise,
I was yours and you were mine,

In the chapel in the valley of my dreams...

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of Delbert & Glen's song "Peace In The Valley" set the scene for a beautiful and peaceful place called the valley of dreams. In this valley, there is a chapel, a place of worship and solace. The mention of the chapel represents the spiritual and sacred aspect of the songwriter's dreams and desires.

The lyrics continue by describing the ambiance in the chapel. The organ is playing, creating a melodious atmosphere that fills the air with enchanting music. The focus shifts to the choir in the chapel, indicating the presence of a group of singers who add their voices to the harmonious sounds. This serves as a metaphor for the multitude of emotions and aspirations within the songwriter that find expression in this space of dreams.

The third paragraph describes a personal moment of significance within the dream-like state. The songwriter's heart starts to waver, maybe due to the overwhelming emotions or the weight of the occasion. As the bells begin to chime, signaling an important event, the songwriter and their beloved kneel before the altar. This suggests that they are ready to make a lifelong commitment to one another, symbolized by getting married. The chapel becomes a witness to this important moment, binding the two lovers in a sacred union.

The final paragraph emphasizes the vow made in the chapel. The promise of love and devotion is sealed between the songwriter and their partner. The chapel, representing a place of spirituality and faith, becomes the backdrop for the promise that they will be together, with the songwriter stating "I was yours and you were mine." It highlights the strength and significance of the bond established within the valley of dreams, embodied by the chapel.

Overall, "Peace In The Valley" depicts a spiritual and symbolic journey where the songwriter finds peace, love, and commitment. The chapel and its surroundings serve as a sanctuary and a source of clarity, allowing the songwriter to make a promise and create a profound connection with their beloved in this realm of dreams.

Line by Line Meaning

There's a chapel in the valley
In my imagination, there is a place of refuge and peace

In the valley of my dreams
Within the depths of my subconscious desires

And the organ's playing just for you and me
The music is a symbol of our unique connection and love

There's a choir in the chapel
A group united in harmony and devotion

In my reverie it seems
When lost in my own thoughts and fantasies

I can hear their voices sing, 'Oh, promise me'
Their melodious voices express the plea for eternal commitment

My heart began to falter
My emotions became unsettled and uncertain

As the bells began to chime
The ringing of the bells marked a significant moment

We knelt before the altar
Together, we humbly approached the sacred place

For it was our wedding time
The moment when we joined in matrimony

It was there we made a promise
In that sacred space, we vowed to one another

I was yours and you were mine
We pledged our exclusive love and devotion

In the chapel in the valley of my dreams...
Within the sanctuary of my deepest aspirations

Lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing, Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHNNY LANGE, LEON T. RENE, LEW PORTER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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