The Promised Land
Johnnie Allan 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 Promised Land is a song that tells a story of a man's journey from Virginia to California. In the first verse, the man leaves his home in Norfolk Virginia and heads to California, feeling excited and longing for a new life. He takes a Greyhound bus and passes through Raleigh and Caroline all the way to Alabama where they encounter motor trouble. The bus breaks down in downtown Birmingham, stranding everyone, but the man does not lose hope. He buys a train ticket that will take him across Mississippi and eventually to New Orleans.
In the second verse, he is still determined to make it to California, and he is helped by someone who cares about him in Houston. He arrives in Alburquerque, and after waking up from his sleep, he realizes he is closer to his destination. He then boards a plane and flies to Los Angeles, and in the final chorus, he calls home and announces that he has made it to the promised land.
Line by Line Meaning
I left my home in Norfolk Virginia
I departed from my hometown of Norfolk Virginia.
California on my mind
I'm thinking of California.
I straddled that Greyhound
I got on a Greyhound bus.
And rode into Raleigh
I traveled to Raleigh.
And on across Caroline
I continued across the state of North Carolina.
We had motor trouble that turn into a struggle
Our bus had engine trouble which turned into a big problem.
Halfway across Alabam'
We were halfway through the state of Alabama.
And that hound broke down and left us all stranded
Our bus broke down and we were all stuck in downtown Birmingham.
In downtown Birmingham
We were stranded in the downtown part of Birmingham, Alabama.
Right away I brought me a through train ticket
I immediately got a train ticket that took me all the way to my destination.
Ridin' across Mississippi clean
I crossed the state of Mississippi without any problems.
And I was on that midnight flyer out of Birmingham
I left Birmingham on a late-night flight.
Smoking into New Orleans
I arrived in New Orleans by plane.
Somebody help me get out of Louisiana
I need help leaving Louisiana.
Just to help me get to Houston Town
I need help getting to Houston, Texas.
There are people there who care a little about me
I know some people in Houston who care about me.
And they won't let the poor boy down
They won't disappoint me.
Sure as you're born brought me a silk suit
I got myself a nice silk suit.
Put luggage in my hand
I was given my luggage to carry.
And I woke up high over Alburquerque
I woke up while flying over Albuquerque, New Mexico.
On a jet to the promised land
I was flying to my dream destination.
Working on a T-bone steak a la carte
I was enjoying a fancy meal on the plane.
Flying over to the golden state
I was flying to California.
Ah when the pilot told us in thirteen minutes
The pilot announced that we would be landing soon, in 13 minutes.
He would set us at the terminal gate
He would bring us to our destination gate.
Swing low chariot come down easy
I'm begging for a smooth landing.
Taxi to the terminal zone
The plane is taxiing towards the terminal.
Cut your engines and cool your wings
The engines of the plane are turned off to cool down.
And let me make it to the telephone
Please let me get to the phone so I can contact my loved ones.
Los Angeles give me Norfolk Virginia
I'm calling from Los Angeles, asking for Norfolk Virginia.
Tidewater four ten o nine
I'm asking for a specific phone number at Tidewater.
Tell the folks back home this is the promised land calling
Tell my family and friends that I made it to my dream destination.
And the poor boy is on the line
I'm the one calling, and I'm still not rich despite reaching my destination.
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.