The Promise Lyrics

Lyric discussion by starrynights 

Cover art for The Promise lyrics by Tracy Chapman

This is a beautiful song. A song about lovers who are separated because of reasons that shouldn't have been. I think it is about young lovers who are leaving behind their love; vowing to return to each other in the end when their destined journey end. They are young, and each has own journeys to take. So, they must separate to become a person...It is a sacred vow they are going to make to each other. I think they know the pain they will go through when they have to separate. When they will be alone, in separation, when the world will be too much for them, he/she know they will remember their love, their touch, their kiss, their warm embrace...and the he/she will yearn that the other person feels the same way and will also be waiting for them. It is about the promise. The promise they are about to make to each other before they see what the world is. And here, the song also talks about faith…will that person be waiting? Life is a journey where you must make meaning for it by yourself first and see it by yourself. Then when that journey ends whatever it may be...finishing school, soul searching, what ever your journey is...you want to end that quest in the arms of your soul mate, which you were fortunate to find when you were very young.