Born in Cleveland, Ohio,U.S., Tracy Chapman began playing guitar and writing songs as a child. She received a scholarship through A Better Chance that allowed her to attend Wooster School in Connecticut, and was eventually accepted to Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts.
Tracy Chapman helped restore songwriters to the spotlight in the '80s. The multi-platinum success of Chapman's eponymous 1988 debut was unexpected, and it had lasting impact. Although Chapman was working from the same confessional songwriter foundation that had been popularized in the '70s, her songs were fresh and powerful, driven by simple melodies and affecting lyrics. At the time of her first album, there were only a handful of artists performing such a style successfully, and her success ushered in a new era of songwriters that lasted well into the '90s. Along with 10,000 Maniacs and R.E.M., Chapman's liberal politics proved enormously influential on American college campuses in the late '80s.
Official Website: http://www.tracychapman.com
Fansite: http://www.tracychapmanonline.com
The Promise
Tracy Chapman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Then I'll come for you
Although I've traveled far
I always hold a place for you in my heart
If you think of me
If you miss me once in a while
Then I'll return to you
Remembering
Your touch
Your kiss
Your warm embrace
I'll find my way back to you
If you'll be waiting
If you dream of me
Like I dream of you
In a place that's warm and dark
In a place where I can feel the beating of your heart
Remembering
Your touch
Your kiss
Your warm embrace
I'll find my way back to you
If you'll be waiting
Oh, I've longed for you
And I have desired
To see your face, your smile
To be with you wherever you are
Remembering
Your touch
Your kiss
Your warm embrace
I'll find my way back to you
Please say you'll be waiting
Together again
It would feel so good to be
In your arms
Where all my journeys end
If you can make a promise
If it's one that you can keep
I vow to come for you
If you wait for me
And say you'll hold
A place for me
In your heart
A place for me in your heart
A place for me in your heart
A place for me in your heart
The Promise is a song about two people who are deeply in love and separated from each other, promising to be reunited as long as they wait for each other. Tracy Chapman's lyrics reinforce the idea that no matter what life throws at them, their love is strong enough to conquer anything. In the first verse, she says that she will always hold a special place for her significant other in her heart, even though she has traveled far. She is reassuring them that their love will always continue, and distance won't be the cause of their separation. Throughout the bridge, she reminisces about their past, remembering every detail of their love, emphasizing that the love they share is real and not just words.
In the second verse, she expresses her longing for her significant other, saying how much she misses their touch and kiss, and how much she dreams of seeing her love once more. She yearns for the feel of her significant other's heart beating against her chest, longing for them to hold her in their arms once again. She repeats the bridge, reminding her partner that their love is irreplaceable and admitting that she's willing to go through whatever it takes if they promise to wait for her. She wants to be reunited with her love and never let go, and the only thing that can make that happen is if they wait for each other.
Overall, the song is about two people who have been separated from each other but want to be reunited. It is a testament to the power of true love and how it can overcome any distance, time, or obstacle.
Line by Line Meaning
If you wait for me
If you wait for me to come back, I will.
Then I'll come for you
I'll come back to you.
Although I've traveled far
Despite traveling far from you,
I always hold a place for you in my heart
I always make sure there's a place for you in my heart.
If you think of me
If you remember me,
If you miss me once in a while
If you occasionally feel a longing for me,
Then I'll return to you
I'll come back to you.
I'll return and fill that space in your heart
I'll fill the void that you feel without me.
Remembering
Recalling
Your touch
The sensation of your skin touching mine
Your kiss
The touch of your lips on mine
Your warm embrace
The feeling of your arms around me
I'll find my way back to you
I'll make my way back to you,
If you'll be waiting
If you're patient for my return.
If you dream of me
If you imagine me in your sleep,
Like I dream of you
Just the way I do of you,
In a place that's warm and dark
In a cosy and dark place such as the bedroom,
In a place where I can feel the beating of your heart
In a place where I can feel the touch of your heart as I embrace you.
Oh, I've longed for you
I have missed you so much,
And I have desired
And I have wanted,
To see your face, your smile
To look at your face and see your smile.
To be with you wherever you are
To be together with you no matter where you are.
Please say you'll be waiting
Please tell me you'll expect me,
Together again
Back together,
It would feel so good to be
I would feel so good,
In your arms
Hugging you,
Where all my journeys end
Wherever I end up,
If you can make a promise
If you can make me a promise,
If it's one that you can keep
If it's something you can realistically do,
I vow to come for you
I swear to come for you,
And say you'll hold
And let me know that you'll keep,
A place for me in your heart
That you'll reserve a special place for me in your heart.
A place for me in your heart
A special place for me in your heart,
A place for me in your heart
A space in your heart that is reserved just for me.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Tracy L Chapman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind