Tracy Chapman – The Promise

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Send "The Promise" Ringtone to Cell

If you wait for me
then I'll come for you
Although I've traveled far
I always hold a place for you in my heart

If you think of me
If you miss me once in awhile
Then I'll return to you
I'll return and fill that space in your heart

Remembering
Your touch
Your kiss
Your warm embrace
I'll find my way back to you
If you'll be waiting

If you dream of me
L like I dream of you
In a place that's warm and dark
In a place where I can feel the beating of your heart

Remembering
Your touch
Your kiss
Your warm embrace
I'll find my way back to you
If you'll be waiting

I've longed for you
A and I have desired
To see your face your smile
To be with you wherever you are

Remembering
Your touch
Your kiss
Your warm embrace
I'll find my way back to you
Please say you'll be waiting

Together again
It would feel so good to be
In your arms
Where all my journeys end
If you can make a promise
If it's one that you can keep
I vow to come for you
If you wait for me

And say you'll hold
A place for me
I in your heart.

Send "The Promise" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by Nelly

Track duration: 05:28

"The Promise" as written by Tracy L Chapman

Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


The Promise song meanings
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42 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:This song is about a promise that was made to someone. He left and lost her. He has never stopped loving her and is wanting to still keep his primise to her. He is promising to wait for her for as long as it takes. Always and he will keep his promise.
    Flagged sdaseahorseon November 19, 2011   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:This song is so beautiful! One my favourite songs of all time. I loved it when I first heard it but it's only now that I truly understand the lyrics.

    I work overseas for 6 weeks at a time and I'm only home for 3 weeks. I have a beautiful loving man that waits for me patiently at home and sometimes it's so hard! I've often told him that if it is too hard I understand but he has never wavered. And it is just the simple things that I miss - "your touch, your kiss, your warm embrace"; so I truly do understand this song and it makes me tear up every time I hear it!

    My understanding of the song: someone that is forced to be away from home and the person that they love. And they are asking their partner to wait for them, to know that they miss them in every way and if they wait, they promise it will be worth it when they finally come home for good.

    That's exactly how I feel about my man too - thank Tracy Chapman for the amazing lyrics and songs which really do speak from the heart!
    Flag MissElleon September 13, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The song is about two people so in love but who can't be together and must be apart for a while. Her promise to him, is please remember me, and please keep a place in your heart for me, and I will find you and return to you and be yours forever as soon as I can.
    Flag michaelkj77on January 08, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i was first turned on to Tracy Chapman's music when i was in my first year of college. a bunch of my friends and i used to listen to her music while we were studying. over and over, we listened to it and in my mind, one song always stuck out in my head. and, it was this song, "The Promise". this song is a little bit of everything to me, such as finding someone when you're young with whom you really connect, i.e. soulmate. the connection is so strong that it goes recognized (vocalized or not). due to their young age, each has another priority vs. the time that needs to be invested in the relationship. given the connection is so strong, each has to take a break from the other to perhaps see other people to make sure that there is no one else with whom the connection is equally strong or even stronger. when the timing is right, each person comes back to the other. this is "The Promise".
    Flagged atlgirl79on January 01, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Tracy's relationship to God
    Flag RKBCompasson October 10, 2010   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:This is such a beautiful song. I always tend to listen to this song when im late at night thinking of everyone from my past.
    Everyone says this song is about relationship between a boyfriend and a girlfriend, which it can be about that, but I also thinking this song could be about a lost loved one either family,friend or even child.

    I always tend to think of my father or my sister or even my son when I listen to this song..just some thought
    Flag ginnjewson March 17, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:This song is simply beautiful. I cry every time I hear it. When I first fell in love with this song, I thought it wsa about lover being separated and fearing separation. But after I saw Remember Me, I listened to this song and I find a whole new meaning. I think teh speaker is singing to someone that is dead. They want the dead loved one to come back for them but they can't. The speaker remembers their wonderful qualities and wants nothing more than to be with them again.
    I've longed for you
    A and I have desired
    To see your face your smile
    To be with you wherever you are


    Remembering
    Your touch
    Your kiss
    Your warm embrace
    I'll find my way back to you
    Please say you'll be waiting


    Together again
    It would feel so good to be
    In your arms
    Where all my journeys end
    If you can make a promise
    If it's one that you can keep
    I vow to come for you
    If you wait for me

    But that's how I view the song now. No matter the message you get from this song, I hope you can feel the emotion in the lyrics and instruments.
    Flag LillyLullabyon March 15, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I'm in a long distance relationship, and that's what I think this song means in a nutshell.
    He sang this to me, and I absolutely melted. I can't listen to it without crying my eyes out with joy and sadness because I miss him, this song, it's just an utter work of art.
    Flag lauraspitsglitteron March 08, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I don't really feel that this is a love song as far as about lovers being separated. I had this son played at my sister's funeral with a montage of her pictures. To me it gives me hope that she'll be waiting for me in heaven. I think that when she talks about travelling far she's referring to heaven. Even though it's been two years since she passed, I still cry like a baby when I hear it. But it gives me comfort and hope that one day I'll see her again in heaven.
    Flag joeyjohnleeon March 04, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:

    to grant that sort've wish Tracy sings for in this song...: real-wishes.com

    Flag NostalgicBlueson January 16, 2009   Link

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