Story Behind The Song
Bob had the music for this song rolling around for a good six months. It definitely sounded and felt like traditional gospel. In fact, to both of us it seemed musically reminiscent of People Get Ready by the Chambers Brothers. So there was definitely a gospel groove built in from the get-go. The song is a little biographical from my perspective. In the early 1920's, my mother, Jo, came over to this country from Ireland at the age of 16. She was unable to go back until the 1970's, long after her parents and that generation had passed away. The act of sailing to America back then was like the act of going to another planet. Everyone knew that they would never lay eyes on each other in this life again. Well, she lived and died a Roman Catholic; and she always had the belief that when she died, she would in a sense "sail home" again . . . and, now that I think about it, I suspect that in her heart "home" probably looked a lot like Ireland. I was with her when she died in 2000; and at one point very near the end, she sat up from her semi-coma and sang parts of an Irish lament (Maggie). If there is a heaven, she sailed there later that day; and all of her family, and the others that she had left behind, "crowded onto that jetty" to greet her. dennis wanebo
Song Description
Gospel. The ship and its journey is the metaphor for the journey from this world to heaven. The song has a very upbeat sense . . . and, we believe the lyrics to be equally optimistic. Clearly the action takes place on board a ship, but you are informed early on that this is no ordinary ship . . . "this trip ain't going to be the same as Baton Rouge to Natchez." There's a sweeping-up sense of the evening tide. Of course, it is part of schoolboy lore that all the great sailing stories began at high tide, and they always sailed "on the tide" . . . and it felt appropriate to appropriate this image into the final journey. Of course, then, it must be the evening tide. There is a sense of stillness and beauty at the time of this tide and all the hard edges of the day (and of life itself in the song) are softened as they always are by the warm hues of the dying sun. It all just seemed to work. Just one last breath to free you, and you can sail off to heaven on the evening tide.
Song Length |
3:29 |
Genre |
Pop - Religious, Rock - Religious |
Tempo |
Medium Slow (91 - 110) |
Lead Vocal |
Female Vocal |
Mood |
Welcoming, Exultant |
Subject |
Spirituality, Heaven |
Similar Artists |
Phoebe Snow, Shawn Colvin |
Language |
English |
Era |
2000 and later |
| |
Lyrics
The Promise (A Song For Jo)
Copyright Bob Story & Dennis Wanebo 2003
CHORUS
All the People are Ready
They're Every Bit as Ready as a Blushing Bride
And if that Good Wind Holds Steady
You?ll be Headed Off for Heaven on the Evening Tide
VERSE ONE
We'll Furl out the Mizzenmast
And Batten Down the Hatches;
This trip Ain't Gonna be the Same
As Baton Rouge to Natchez.
The Lord's Love is Lightning Fast;
It Comes to us in Flashes.
It?s the way . . . .
CHORUS
VERSE TWO
Singin' for Your Breakfast,
Singin' for Your Supper;
When you Crawl into the Lower Berth,
The Lord is in the Upper.
When You Listen to Your Fellow Man,
And Help Him When He Suffers,
It's the Way . . . .
CHORUS
BRIDGE:
They?ll All Be Overjoyed
To See You;
It Seems They?ve Awaited Your Arrival
Since the Dawn of Time.
It Takes Just One Last Breath
To Free You
So You Can Sail Off for Heaven
On the Evenin? Tide
BRIDGE 2
They?ll all be Waving
Anticipating
You Ship Coming Into View.
All Your People Are Ready;
Crowded Onto That Jetty
For You . . .
VERSE TWO
Singin' for Your Breakfast,
Singin' for Your Supper,
When you Crawl into the Lower Berth,
The Lord is in the Upper;
You Listened to Your Fellow Man,
And Hear Him When He Suffers,
It?s the Way
BRIDGE #2
They?ll all be Waving
Anticipating
You Ship Coming Into View
All Your People Are Ready
Crowded Onto That Jetty
For You . . .
They?ll All Turn Out for You.