His recording career started in 1967, as lead guitarist in the band Paul Revere & The Raiders. He penned their 1969 hit "We Gotta All Get Together".
He recorded many country songs like Joe South's "'Games People Play", Chuck Berry's "The Promised Land" and "Too Much Monkey Business", "She Loves Me Right Out Of My Mind", "Indian Lake", "Down In The Boondocks", and many others. Weller also played guitar for South and Billy Joe Royal.[1]
Weller's biggest solo hit as a country music artist was "Games People Play", which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in 1969; "Promised Land" and "Indian Lake", both 1971, peaked at No. 3.[1] He co-wrote "Dizzy" and "Jam Up and Jelly Tight", which were hits for Tommy Roe in 1970.
Promised Land
Freddy Weller Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I strattled that greyhound and rode him into Releigh and on across Caroline
Stopped at Charlotte and we by passed Blackhill we never was a minute late
We was ninety miles out of Atlanta by sundown rollin' out of Georgia state
Had mottor trouble that turned into a struggle halfway across Alabama
And that bound broke down and left us all stranded in downtown Birmingham
[ Steel ]
And I was on that midnight flyer out of Birmingham smokin' into New Orleans
Somebody help me get out of Louisiana just the help me get to Houston town
There's people there who care a little bout me and they won't let a poor boy down
Sure as you're born they brought me a silk suit and put luggage in my hand
And I woke up high over Albuquerque on a jet to the promised land
[ Fiddle ]
Workin' on a T-bone steak I had a party flyin' over to the golden state
When the pilot told us in thirteen minutes he would get 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 tied Water 4-10-0-9
Tell the folks back home this is the promised land callin' and the poor boy's on the line
Tell the folks back home this is the promised land callin' and the poor boy's on the line
The lyrics to Freddy Weller's song Promised Land tell the story of a journey from Norfolk, Virginia to California. The singer takes a Greyhound bus and travels through Raleigh, Charlotte, Atlanta, and Birmingham. The trip is not without its challenges as they experience motor trouble and a breakdown halfway across Alabama. But the singer is determined to get to the promised land and buys a through train ticket, reaching Mississippi and then taking a midnight flyer to New Orleans. Finally, the singer flies to Los Angeles, arriving in the promised land.
The song is about the American dream and the idea of a better life in California. The singer is leaving their old life behind and seeking something new and different. Throughout the journey, there are obstacles and difficulties, but the singer persists with the hope of reaching the promised land.
Overall, the song is a commentary on the human desire to seek a better life, to leave the past behind, and find something new and promising. It's a classic American story about perseverance and the pursuit of the American dream.
Line by Line Meaning
I left my home in Norfolk Virginia California on my mind
I left my hometown of Norfolk Virginia with dreams of going to California.
I strattled that greyhound and rode him into Releigh and on across Caroline
I took a Greyhound bus to Raleigh and continued across the state of North Carolina.
Stopped at Charlotte and we by passed Blackhill we never was a minute late
I stopped at Charlotte and didn't waste time by bypassing Black Hill. We were always on schedule.
We was ninety miles out of Atlanta by sundown rollin' out of Georgia state
By sundown, we were already 90 miles out of Atlanta and leaving the state of Georgia behind us.
Had mottor trouble that turned into a struggle halfway across Alabama
Our vehicle had trouble halfway across Alabama, which turned into a struggle.
And that bound broke down and left us all stranded in downtown Birmingham
The vehicle eventually broke down, leaving all of us stranded in downtown Birmingham.
Right away I bought me a through train ticket ridin' across Mississippi clean
I bought a train ticket immediately and rode through Mississippi uneventfully.
And I was on that midnight flyer out of Birmingham smokin' into New Orleans
I took the midnight flight out of Birmingham and flew into New Orleans.
Somebody help me get out of Louisiana just the help me get to Houston town
I needed help to leave Louisiana and make it to the town of Houston.
There's people there who care a little bout me and they won't let a poor boy down
There are people in Houston who care about me and won't let me, a poor boy, down.
Sure as you're born they brought me a silk suit and put luggage in my hand
Believe it or not, they gave me a silk suit and helped me carry my luggage.
And I woke up high over Albuquerque on a jet to the promised land
I woke up over Albuquerque, high up in the sky on a jet plane on my way to the promised land.
Workin' on a T-bone steak I had a party flyin' over to the golden state
I enjoyed a T-bone steak and a party while flying over to the golden state.
When the pilot told us in thirteen minutes he would get us at the terminal gate
The pilot announced that we would be at the terminal gate in 13 minutes.
Swing low chariot come down easy taxi to the terminal zone
I asked the plane to land smoothly and taxi to the terminal zone.
Cut your engines and cool your wings and let me make it to the telephone
I asked the plane to turn off its engines and let me make it to the telephone.
Los Angeles give me Norfolk Virginia tied Water 4-10-0-9
I called Norfolk Virginia from Los Angeles and gave the operator my phone number, which was Water 4-10-0-9.
Tell the folks back home this is the promised land callin' and the poor boy's on the line
Tell the people back home that I am calling from the promised land and that the poor boy is on the line.
Tell the folks back home this is the promised land callin' and the poor boy's on the line
Repeat the message that the promised land is calling and that I, the poor boy, am on the line.
Writer(s): Chuck Berry
Contributed by Nicholas O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Daniel Burns
this song went to #3 on the country charts in 1971!!!
Tom Stark
BEST version ever!
barrygioportmorien1
This version by Freddy is the definitive one in my humble opinion....
Barry Faulkner
barrygioportmorien1 I’m with ya when you’re right
jack jones
Chuck berry then this one
James Cameline
My favorite version of this song
sjoldtimer
Hardly anyone ever mentions that he played lead guitar for a couple of years with Paul Revere and the Raiders. Also wrote a couple of songs that the group charted. His biggest hit was "Games People Play" in 1969, which he wrote. He wrote songs for quite a few other singers as well as played guitar on a number of hit records by other artists. Freddy Weller was a busy guy.
Steven Love
Yes I know he did, it ashamed no speaks of that.
valerie ehrlich
Weller was and still is fantastic
valerie ehrlich
Weller wrote songs for Tommy roe Billy Joel he had written for Billy Joel long before his stint with the raiders in 68