Lyr Req: Promised Land (Chuck Berry)

Subject: Left my home in Norfork Virginia, .
From: Bill Strummer
Date: 13 Dec 99 - 05:04 PM

Need the lyrics to a rockin' tune that starts out: "Left my home in Norfork, Virginia; California on my mind."

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Left my home in Norfork Virginia, .
From: Tiger
Date: 13 Dec 99 - 06:17 PM

Sound like Johnny Rivers' "Poor Boy". Should be on the pop sites like International Lyrics Server.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Left my home in Norfork Virginia, .
From: PJ Curtis, The Burren , Ireland.
Date: 13 Dec 99 - 06:22 PM

Bill, This is the Chuck berry Classic .The promised Land. Chuck's is good but try the Johnnie Allen version with dynamite cajun accordion solo by Richard belton. PJc.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Left my home in Norfork Virginia, .
From: Paddy(1)
Date: 13 Dec 99 - 09:19 PM

From a CD, I can't get some of the words but would love to get them clarified

Promised Land

I left my home in Norfolk Virginia,
California on my mind
I straddled that Greyhound rollin' out of Raleigh(?)
All across Caroline
We stopped in Shorly(?)we bypassed Rockfield
we never was a minute late
Ninety miles out of that letter by sundown(?)
rolled across the Georgia state
Right away I bought me a through train ticket
Right across Mississippi clean
I was on that midnight flier out of Birmingham
Smokin' into New Orleans
Somebody help me get out of Louisiana
Help me get to Houston town
Ther'e some folks who tell lies about me (?)
And they won't let the poor boy down

(Accordian Solo - brilliant, not to mention the drummer)

Workin' on a t-bone steak al a goney (?)
Flyin' over to the golden state
How did it go (?) in thirteen minutes
To landing at the terminal gate
Slow down chariot, come down easy
Taxi to the terminal gate
Cut your engine, then cool your wings
Then we make it to the telephone
Lawson's brimming, (?) Norfolk Virginia
Dialling one o four ten o nine
Tell the folks back home this is the promised land calling
Poor boy's on the line

I presume I have misinterpreted some of the phrases and some of the place names. Somebody please correct me.

Paddy(1)

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Left my home in Norfork Virginia, .
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 13 Dec 99 - 11:15 PM

And there's a pretty good MIDI of the tune at the Greatful Dead site at http://www.angelfire.com/ma/hyanick2/midis.html - no accordian solo though I'm afraid. I bet Alison could add one though if you sent her a copy of the CD. Regards, John.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Left my home in Norfork Virginia, .
From: MandolinPaul
Date: 13 Dec 99 - 11:25 PM

Hey Paddy,

You did a mighty fine job on a mighty unintelligible song. Here's my take on a couple of your question marks:

that letter = Atlanta who tell lies about me = who care a little 'bout me

Paul.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Left my home in Norfork Virginia, .
From: Callie
Date: 14 Dec 99 - 02:44 AM

There's a great verion of the song by an Australian group called The Black Sorrows - kinda Cajun with lots of accordion but the real genious is in the lead singer's - Joe Camilleri - delivery. Callie

ps: I heard him perform it a few years ago with Johnny Johnson, Chuck Berry's pianist

Subject: Lyr Add: PROMISED LAND (Chuck Berry)
From: Gene
Date: 14 Dec 99 - 05:05 PM

PROMISED LAND
Chuck Berry

I left my home in Norfolk, Virginia,
California on my mind.
I straddled that Greyhound and rode him into Raleigh
And on across Caroline.

We stopped in Charlotte, but bypassed Rock Hill.
We never was a minute late.
We was ninety miles out of Atlanta by sundown,
Rollin' out o' Georgia state.

We had motor trouble; it turned into a struggle
Halfway across Alabam',
And that 'hound broke down and left us all stranded
In downtown Birmingham.

Right away, I bought me a through train ticket
Ridin' 'cross Mississippi clean,
And I was on that Midnight Flyer out of Birmingham,
Smoking into New Orleans.

Somebody help me get out of Louisiana.
Just help me get to Houston town.
There are 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,
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-oh-nine.
Tell the folks back home this is the promised land callin'
And the poor boy is on the line.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Left my home in Norfork Virginia, .
From: Paddy(1)
Date: 14 Dec 99 - 07:14 PM

PaulS and Callie

Thank you for the clarification, it all makes more sense to my "Irish Brogue" trained ear now.

Paddy(1)