About The Song
Absolutely! “Three Wooden Crosses” by Randy Travis is a powerful and emotional song that has become a country music classic. Here’s a breakdown of its themes, style, and impact:
Story and Themes:
The song tells a story from the perspective of a traveler driving down a highway and seeing three wooden crosses on the side of the road. The narrator contemplates the lives represented by the crosses, sparking a reflection on mortality, faith, and redemption.
Key Themes:
- Mortality and the impermanence of life: The song prompts listeners to consider their own lives and the inevitable reality of death.
- Faith and redemption: While the song acknowledges the hardships symbolized by the crosses, it also offers a sense of hope through faith and the possibility of redemption.
- Empathy and compassion: The lyrics encourage listeners to consider the stories behind the crosses and to show compassion for those who have passed.
Musical Style:
- The song features a melancholic yet hopeful melody with prominent acoustic guitar and piano accompaniment.
- Randy Travis’s rich baritone vocals deliver the lyrics with sincerity and emotional depth.
- The simple and tasteful arrangement creates a reflective and introspective atmosphere.
Impact and Legacy:
- “Three Wooden Crosses” was a major hit for Randy Travis, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and winning the Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 2003.
- The song resonated deeply with listeners for its relatable themes and its exploration of faith and mortality.
- It remains a popular choice for funerals, memorials, and other reflective moments.
- “Three Wooden Crosses” is considered a signature song for Randy Travis and a defining moment in his career.
Here are some additional resources you might find interesting:
- Listen to the song: You can find “Three Wooden Crosses” by Randy Travis on various music streaming services or watch the music video on YouTube: YouTube: [link to Randy Travis Three Wooden Crosses] (This might be a different video, you can search for the specific song by Randy Travis).
- Read more about the song’s history and impact: While there isn’t a dedicated Wikipedia page for the song itself, you can find information about Randy Travis’s career and the album “Rise and Shine” (which includes the song) on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy_Travis
- Explore Songs About Faith in Country Music: You can find online resources that discuss the role of faith in country music and other genres, and how songs explore themes of spirituality and religion.
Video
Lyrics
Let’s sing along with the lyrics!
A farmer and a teacher, a hooker and a preacher
Ridin’ on a midnight bus bound for Mexico
One’s headed for vacation, one for higher education
And two of them were searchin’ for lost souls
That driver never ever saw the stop sign
And eighteen wheelers can’t stop on a dime
There are three wooden crosses on the right side of the highway
Why there’s not four of them, Heaven only knows
I guess it’s not what you take when you leave this world behind you
It’s what you leave behind you when you go
That farmer left a harvest, a home and eighty acres
The faith and love for growin’ things in his young son’s heart
And that teacher left her wisdom in the minds of lots of children
Did her best to give ’em all a better start
And that preacher whispered, “Can’t you see the Promised Land?”
As he laid his blood-stained bible in that hooker’s hand
There are three wooden crosses on the right side of the highway
Why there’s not four of them, Heaven only knows
I guess it’s not what you take when you leave this world behind you
It’s what you leave behind you when you go
That’s the story that our preacher told last Sunday
As he held that blood-stained bible up
For all of us to see
He said “Bless the farmer, and the teacher, and the preacher
Who gave this Bible to my mama
Who read it to me”
There are three wooden crosses on the right side of the highway
Why there’s not four of them, now I guess we know
It’s not what you take when you leave this world behind you
It’s what you leave behind you when you go
There are three wooden crosses on the right side of the highway
