THE PROMISED LAND

Live 11 Nov 2014 version



[Bob Woodruff introduction:] [...] Our next performer ─ well he believes that too. He's been a huge supporter of our organization, the Bob Woodruff Foundation. He's been with us for eight straight years, he will not stop, he will never surrender. He amazes us with his songs and his voice. The one, the only, my friend Bruce Springsteen!

[Spoken intro:] Good evening Washington. Wanna send this out tonight as uh, prayer for all our recently returned vets who uh, deserve the best care this country can give them. And we, where they've come on, we haven't got there yet. This is for you guys.

On a rattlesnake speedway in the Utah desert
I pick up my money, head back into town
Driving 'cross the Waynesboro county line
I got the radio on but I'm just killing time
Working all day in my daddy's garage
Driving all night chasing some mirage
Pretty soon darling I'm gonna take charge

Well the dogs on Main Street howl 'cause they understand
If I could take this moment into my hands
Mister I ain't a boy, no I'm a man
And I believe in a promised land

I've done my best now to live the right way
I get up every morning and go to work each day
But your eyes go blind and your blood runs cold
Sometimes I feel so weak I just wanna explode
Explode and tear this whole town apart
Take a knife and cut this pain from my heart
Try to find somebody itching for something to start

Well the dogs on Main Street howl 'cause they understand
If I could reach this moment into my hands
Mister I ain't a boy, no I'm a man
And I believe in a promised land

There's a dark cloud rising from the desert floor
I packed my bags, I'm headed straight into the storm
Gonna be a twister to blow everything down
That ain't got the faith to stand its ground
Blow away the dreams that tear you apart
Blow away the dreams that break your heart
Blow away the lies that leave you nothing but lost and brokenhearted

Well the dogs on Main Street howl 'cause they understand
If I could take this moment into my hands
Mister I ain't a boy, no I'm a man
And I believe in a promised land
And I believe in a promised land
And I believe in a promised land


Info

The above lyrics are for the live 11 Nov 2014 performance of THE PROMISED LAND at National Mall in Washington, DC, during The Concert For Valor. The song was performed solo on acoustic guitar and harmonica.


This live 11 Nov 2014 version of THE PROMISED LAND (minus the spoken intro) was exclusively released on the Blinded By The Light: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack album in 2019.

Various artists -- Blinded By The Light: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Various artists -- Blinded By The Light: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

CD - Columbia Records / Legacy Recordings (19075955742) - USA, 2019
2xLP - Columbia Records / Legacy Recordings (19075955751) - USA, 2019

The 11 Nov 2014 Show

The Concert for Valor was a Veterans Day concert put together by HBO, Chase, and Starbucks. Performers included Bruce Springsteen, The Black Keys, Rihanna, Eminem, Zac Brown Band, Jennifer Hudson, Carrie Underwood, Metallica, Dave Grohl, and Jessie J. The show featured onstage hosts Jack Black, Bryan Cranston, Jamie Foxx, George Lopez, John Oliver, and Bob Woodruff. There were special tributes by Tom Hanks, Will Smith, Steven Spielberg, Meryl Streep, Oprah Winfrey, and Reese Witherspoon. The concert was broadcast live on HBO and streamed over the internet.

Promotional poster for the 11 Nov 2014 show at National Mall, Washington, DC
Promotional poster for the 11 Nov 2014 show at National Mall, Washington, DC

Bruce Springsteen first took the stage at the end of Zag Brown Band's three-song set when he and Dave Grohl joined them on cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival's FORTUNATE SON. Later in the evening Springsteen performed a three-song solo acoustic set of his own.

Appearance in Movies

Bruce Springsteen's live 11 Nov 2014 version of THE PROMISED LAND appears in one movie.

Promotional poster for the film "Blinded By The Light"
Blinded By The Light

It was used in the 2019 film Blinded By The Light, directed by Gurinder Chadha and starring Viveik Kalra. The song was also included in the film's soundtrack album. Chadha found this version of the song and received permission from Springsteen's management to use it.

See I'LL STAND BY YOU (the "Blinded By The Light" section) for more details.

Available Versions

List of available versions of THE PROMISED LAND on this website:

THE PROMISED LAND [Album version]
THE PROMISED LAND [Live 21 Sep 1979 version]
THE PROMISED LAND [Live 22 Sep 1979 version]
THE PROMISED LAND [Live 18 Jun 1988 version]
THE PROMISED LAND [Live 05 Oct 2004 version]
THE PROMISED LAND [Live 13 Dec 2009 version]
THE PROMISED LAND [Live 11 Nov 2014 version]
THE PROMISED LAND [Live July 2018 version]

Page last updated: 14 Jul 2019