Promised Land by Bob Yang

Note: The song "Promised Land" is available for free download.

During the Vietnam War the Hmong people were recruited by the CIA to defend American interests in Laos. As the war waged to no end, American public opinion changed and military involvement was defunded. This resulted in the displacement of thousands of Hmong families, left to fend for themselves against the Viet Cong and their Laotian allies, the Pathet Lao.

The Promised Land is a Hmong musical of four scenes, each comprised of a monologue and a song, that recounts the plight of the Hmong people during the aftermath of the Vietnam War. Accompany a small family through each song as they flee from the isolated villages, through the jungles of Laos, across the raging Mekong River, to the refugee camps in Thailand.

Scene Synopsis:

Sister
The teen years should be spent chasing the joys of youth, not facing the realities of fighting a war. Yet boys as young as 12 were recruited to train and fight in the army. “Sister” is a song of a young soldier sang as a promise to his fiancé of a happy ever after when he returns home.

The Sun
Nightmares became reality when the villages were stormed by the Pathet Lao. Families were separated as each fled for their own lives into the forest. The trees were filled with choruses of mothers weeping for their lost children. The refrain of “The Sun” is a traditional Hmong melody of mourning.

The River
The Mekong river (translated “The Mother River”) is the last body of river, standing between the terror in Laos and salvation in Thailand. The river represented to some the gate to freedom and to others the grip of death. Many sold their belongings, gave their lives and lost their souls to cross the river.

The Promised Land
The Promised Land will be a land of milk and honey, where the roads are paved with silver and gold. There will be no fears or crying, no death or dying. Our suffering will be mended and we will be made anew. Or will it?

Bonus Tracks:
Each album purchase contains four additional tracks, the above songs with English lyrics. English lyrics were not direct translations of the Hmong versions, instead they were written to convey the spirit of the original song without making specific references to the scenes so that the songs can stand on their own without being directly linked to the musical.

Bob is a Hmong American singer-songwriter in St. Paul, MN. He is also the lead vocalist for progressive rock/folk unit Minnasia.

bobyangmusic.com