It's A Long Way To The Promise Land

Song details

Bad Religion original
Yes
First released
2000
First release
The New America (album)
Songwriter
Greg Graffin

Lyrics

It's A Long Way To The Promise Land

It's a long way to the promise land So you'd better well know your way. There's a ship on the ocean And an albatross who is trying to lead you astray. Leaders, politicians and power whores Are in line to receive your choice. And you bet your ass, if you give it to them, They will gladly take your voice. And it's a long way to the promise land. Wo-oh oh oh oh oh. It's a long way to the promise land, If we work we might find it here. There's no substitute for enlightenment, There's no reason for bridled fear. When you join the people who've joined the club, You gotta clench and play your hand, 'Cuz if you fall in line you're gonna fall in time And you'll never make a stand. And it's a long way to the promise land. Wo-oh oh oh oh oh. What are you going to do When they come for you? Bend and capitulate Or keep your head on straight? Easy answers bought without experience Is gonna lead you to certain doom. Because the truth is just what you make of it, It begins and ends with you! And it's a long way to the promise land. Wo-oh oh oh oh oh.

Versions & recordings

Grouped by recording

3

Song statistics

Archive coverage at a glance

60release versions
#91

91st most featured song

18documented shows
#158

158th most played song

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Song Interpretations

What do you think this song is about? Share your interpretation and explain your reasoning.

2

legacy memberNov 23, 2004 · edited Date unknown

This song I think, is pretty easy to define. It basically says that you must rely on you and only yourself to get to the end. The part about the ship and the albatross is like, the easy way out. Leaders, politicians, power whores, they will take your opinion and you will never have a say ever again. No substitute for enlightenment says that there's nothing like true discovery rather than cheating and finding it out.…

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This song I think, is pretty easy to define. It basically says that you must rely on you and only yourself to get to the end. The part about the ship and the albatross is like, the easy way out. Leaders, politicians, power whores, they will take your opinion and you will never have a say ever again. No substitute for enlightenment says that there's nothing like true discovery rather than cheating and finding it out. Stop reading these and define them yourself! I'm kidding. Joining the people who joined the club, playing your hand. That's a metaphor telling you to say what you want. If you keep quiet, you will never be heard, and the chance is probably lost forever. The final verse is a conclusion to all. Easy answers, or cheating, will be worse than without experience. The journey to the promise land starts and ends with you! You will know when you find the truth.
legacy memberJul 17, 2004 · edited Date unknown
My opinion is that in this song, Greg is trying to say how hard it is for anyone to really get anywhere in life. Only the really lucky, really determined, or really crooked can get far in life by themselves. People cheat people for one small chance at greatness. In essence, we're no different from wild animals.