“The Promised Land” werd geschreven door Chuck Berrry toen hij in de gevangenis zat. De melodie is gejat van de oude folksong “Wabash Cannonball”. Het was zijn eerste single na zijn vrijlating in 1965 en zijn laatste “klassieke” song. Daarna was het vuur verdwenen en concentreerde Berry zich uitsluitend nog op het binnenharken van zoveel mogelijk poen.
De song beschrijft een reis van Norfolk, Virginia naar ‘het Beloofde Land”, Los Angeles. “Swing low, sweet chariot” verwijst naar de gelijknamige gospelsong. I looked over Jordan, and what did I see/Coming for to carry me home?/A band of angels coming after me/Coming for to carry me home versus Berry’s Tell the folks back home/this is the promised land callin’/And the poor boy’s on the line. Spiritueel of seculier: de boodschap is identiek.
I left my home in Norfolk Virginia
California on my mind
Straddled that greyhound, rode him past Raleigh
On across Caroline
Stopped in Charlotte and bypassed rock hill
And we never was a minute late
We was ninety miles out of Atlanta by sundown
Rollin’ ‘cross the Georgia state
We had motor trouble it turned into a struggle
Half way ‘cross Alabama
And that ‘hound broke down and left us all stranded
In downtown Birmingham
Straight off, 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’s 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 us in thirteen minutes
He was headin’ at the terminal gate
Swing low sweet 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 callin’
And the poor boy’s on the line
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Awi3zM1U6gE
Swing low, sweet chariot
Coming for to carry me home,
Swing low, sweet chariot,
Coming for to carry me home.
I looked over Jordan, and what did I see
Coming for to carry me home?
A band of angels coming after me,
Coming for to carry me home.
Chorus
Sometimes I’m up, and sometimes I’m down,
(Coming for to carry me home)
But still my soul feels heavenly bound.
(Coming for to carry me home)
Chorus
The brightest day that I can say,
(Coming for to carry me home)
When Jesus washed my sins away.
(Coming for to carry me home)
Chorus
If you get there before I do,
(Coming for to carry me home)
Tell all my friends I’m coming there too.
(Coming for to carry me home)
Chorus
