Lyr Req: The Promise True and Grand (Bukka White)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Promise True and Grand (Bukka White)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 21 Sep 11 - 02:01 PM

The Weenie Campbell web site also has a forum where the lyrics to THE PROMISE TRUE AND GRAND are being discussed. See this message and later messages below it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Promise True and Grand (Bukka White)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 Sep 11 - 07:23 PM

A different transcription of THE PROMISE TRUE AND GRAND appears at Weenie Campbell's web site "WeeniePedia," here. It definitely has some merit, but I need to listen to the recording a few more times before I can decide how many of his lines we should incorporate into our version.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Promise True and Grand (Bukka White)
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 14 Sep 11 - 08:56 AM

I think 6a could be:

  Better tell momma I ran further than* most


(* pronounced more like fa'r 'n)

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Promise True and Grand (Bukka White)
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 14 Sep 11 - 04:47 AM

Same line at 8d also.

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Promise True and Grand (Bukka White)
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Sep 11 - 02:34 AM

I think one correction I would make is that the Johnny with the snow white angels stand would be Join in With the snow white angels band

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Promise True and Grand (Bukka White)
From: GUEST,JC
Date: 22 Aug 10 - 08:05 PM

Phenomenal work done by Jim. With a good set of headphones and about 10000 replays using the peerless program audacity, I think I added some more to the transcription. Some of the passages didn't reveal themselves until I cranked in serious mid-frequency equalization and in some cases I tried various filters and speed changes. Even so, 6a still eludes me. If some others pitch in, we should be able to complete the lyrics for the first time in many years. They're too good to lose!


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 frees me?
2d. I shall be whole with the fire 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 Johnny with the snow-white angels stand?
3e. Lordy, 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 blessed smile will appear,
5b. And tell us our burden lay waste up there?
5c. How long till I view that Promised Land,
5d. And Johnny 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 survived our weeks of prison free as the lamb on Calvary. 
6d. We'll meet our deliv'rance on the sand. 
6e. We can join 'em and we'll clasp them by the hand,
6f. This promise was made by you and me. How long will it be?

7a. How long blessed smile will appear
7b. I'm telling how I feel when we confess 
7c. How long till I view that final places
7d. And drive me home with smiling faces,
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 Dolly, with the snow-white angels stand?
8e. Lordy, hear our plea. How long will it be?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Promise True and Grand (Bukka White)
From: GUEST,JC
Date: 22 Aug 10 - 03:26 PM

Oops...I meant 6c not 6d...my bad...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Promise True and Grand (Bukka White)
From: GUEST,JC
Date: 22 Aug 10 - 03:14 PM

I think 2d's ... is: "fire"
I think 6d is: "We survived our weeks of prison free as the lamb on Calvary"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Promise True and Grand (Bukka White)
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Aug 10 - 02:13 PM

Thanks, been trying to work out the lyrics but it's near impossible for an Englishman. What a bonus that the lyrics turned out to be so great.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bukka White;The Promise True and Grand
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Mar 09 - 03:34 PM

Amazing! Hats off to you Jim, that was a brilliant job, I think I'm going to have to buy some antique Mississippi ears to decipher the unknown phrases! I was slightly worried as I usually do with songs I love but cannot decipher the lyrics of, that I would be disappointed that the lyrics wouldn't be as good as the absurd ones they sound like. With this song the only phrase I thought I could decipher was 'Cherry Red' and even that turned out to be 'Cavalry'! Must be my English ears! As it is I think the lyrics convey a majesty that fits perfectly with the raw, soulful singing, and it makes this a really great song(I'd love to know your opinion). Great job again!
Ben Jones

Subject: Lyr Add: PROMISE TRUE AND GRAND (Bukka White)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 25 Mar 09 - 01:49 PM

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?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bukka White;The Promise True and Grand
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 20 Mar 09 - 10:33 AM

I tried Google with no results.

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bukka White;The Promise True and Grand
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 Mar 09 - 05:23 PM

Wow. Bukka White must be the hardest singer in the world to understand. I have listened to the song, and except for a few phrases, can't make head or tail of it.

Anyone else who wants to try, go to The Internet Archive.

If no one else does better, I will post my few phrases tomorrow.

Subject: Lyr Req: Bukka White;The Promise True and Grand
From: GUEST,BenJones
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 01:16 PM

Can anyone help me with these lyrics? I can't seem to find them anywhere on the internet, and I'd love to be able to sing this one(Bukka White is amazing in gospel mode!)
Cheers
Ben