The Promised Land by Chuck Berry

1961

Freedom Rides

Washington, DC to southern states in the US

4th May, 1961 - 10th December, 1961

During freedom rides, civil rights activists rode interstate buses to the segregated parts of Southern US. The rides took place as the Southern states ignored the ruling that segregated buses were unconstitutional and the federal government did nothing to enforce them. The activists were confronted with arrests from police as well as violence from white protestors.

The Promised Land by Chuck Berry addresses the several cities where the Freedom Riders stopped in its lyrics.

Listen to The Promised Land

By Chuck Berry

Artist Chuck Berry
Release Date 1964
Album St. Louis to Liverpool
Label Chess Records
Genre Rock and roll
Producer(s) Leonard Chess, Philip Chess
Writer(s) Chuck Berry
Duration 2:24
Language English
Country USA
Some notable versions:

The Grateful Dead (1971)
Elvis Presley (1973)

Check out more versions here

I left my home in Norfolk Virginia
California on my mind

and rolled in into Raleigh and all across Carolina

And we never was a minute late
We was ninety miles out of Atlanta by sundown
Rollin' out of Georgia state
We had more trouble it turned into a struggle,

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

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

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 in thirteen minutes
We'd be headin' in the terminal gate
Swing low chariot, come down easy
Taxi to the terminal zone
Cut your engines, 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

About The Promised Land:

Berry wrote the song whilst he was in prison. He tells his story of the journey from Norfolk, Virginia to the 'Promised Land' - Los Angeles, California. The record ended up making the top 20 in the charts.

#41 on the Billboard charts on January 16, 1965

Bibliography and more sources here