Whew! This was quite a challenge. I was able to accomplish more than I expected, but still, the results are not very satisfactory. There are a lot of gaps where I don't have a clue what he was singing, and often when I was able to make a semi-reasonable guess at individual words, the line as a whole doesn't make sense. I hope some others will join this effort. I have numbered all the lines to make it easy to discuss.


PROMISE TRUE AND GRAND
Booker T. Washington "Bukka" White.
Recorded May 26, 1930

1a. I have read of the promise true and grand,
1b. A wonderful Savior's heavenly land
1c. Where all of his angels dwell with Christ eternally,
1d. Where never a trouble we shall rue,
1e. No trouble of God's ways follow the soul.
1f. This promise was made for you and me. How long will it be?

2a. How long, blessed Son, oh, will it fear
2b. And tell it our burdens lay waste up there?
2c. How long till I feel that bond of ... ?
2d. I shall be whole with the ... that feeds me,
2e. Offers that lovely heavenly home beyond the sea.

3a. How long must I toil down below?
3b. How long must I cry, cry tears that flow?
3c. How long till I view that Promised Land,
3d. And till I with the snow-white angels stand?
3e. Lord, hear our plea. How long will it be?

4a. In that land of gilt so light,
4b. Where Jesus the lamb will be the night,
4c. That river of life that holds its own will flow so free,
4d. And in the blest city, we are told,
4e. There the streets are paved with the purest gold.
4f. This promise was made for you and me. How long will it be?

5a. How long must ... will you fear,
5b. And tell us our burden lay waste up there?
5c. How long till I view that Promised Land,
5d. And till I with the snow-white angels stand?
5e. Lordy, hear our plea. How long will it be?

6a. Well, they tell from the ...
6b. And suffering too we'll all be over.
6c. We ... pure as the lamb on Calvary.
6d. We'll meet our deliv'rance on the sand.
6e. We'll conjoin and we'll clasp them by the hand,
6f. This promise was made for you and me. How long will it be?

7a. How long said the ... will appear
7b. I'm telling how ... shall we ...
7c. How long till I view that ...
7d. And tell me, who will finally save me,
7e. Up in that lovely heavenly home beyond the sea?

8a. How long must I toil down below?
8b. How long does love will it be?
8c. How long till I view that Promised Land,
8d. And till I with the snow-white angels stand?
8e. Lordy, hear our plea. How long will it be?