The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
I've been traveling for so long
So lost till I stumbled upon
Two roads in front of me
I had to take my time
To the right I could see a church
I took a step in that direction first
But to the left there was a watering hole
Where they were whiskey drunk
And now that's where I wanna be
The fight down here goes on and on
If I was perfect
Then this would be easy
Either road's plausible
On both I could drown
I walk through the center
With no rules to guide me
I realize it's difficult
But now I can see
There's gotta be another way to go
A way that's much more feasible
A combination of both these lives
A central path without choosing a side
I make decisions one at a time
And though I never say I'm always right
I'm confident that when I stand on my own
You'll see the truest form of a man
When I'm shining through
The fight down here goes on and on
If I was perfect
Then this would be easy
Either road's plausible
On both I could drown
I walk through the center
With no rules to guide me
I realize it's difficult
But now I can see
Oh, I hear them now
All the religious rhymes
(Anger I see)
(Anger I see)
(Anger I see now)
The left isn't better
It's just more of the same
Condemning all these people
For what they believe
I'll climb to the top of the mountain again
No one is going to see me this way
And the closer to the top I get
The more they take aim
But I'm not you
I may not be perfect
But I've always been true
I may not be worthy in your eyes
Climbed up from the bottom
For the last time
The last one the last one
The last time
If I was perfect
Then this would be easy
Either road's plausible
On both I could drown
I walk through the center
With no rules to guide me
I realize it's difficult
But now I can see
So lost till I stumbled upon
Two roads in front of me
I had to take my time
To the right I could see a church
I took a step in that direction first
But to the left there was a watering hole
Where they were whiskey drunk
And now that's where I wanna be
The fight down here goes on and on
If I was perfect
Then this would be easy
Either road's plausible
On both I could drown
I walk through the center
With no rules to guide me
I realize it's difficult
But now I can see
There's gotta be another way to go
A way that's much more feasible
A combination of both these lives
A central path without choosing a side
I make decisions one at a time
And though I never say I'm always right
I'm confident that when I stand on my own
You'll see the truest form of a man
When I'm shining through
The fight down here goes on and on
If I was perfect
Then this would be easy
Either road's plausible
On both I could drown
I walk through the center
With no rules to guide me
I realize it's difficult
But now I can see
Oh, I hear them now
All the religious rhymes
(Anger I see)
(Anger I see)
(Anger I see now)
The left isn't better
It's just more of the same
Condemning all these people
For what they believe
I'll climb to the top of the mountain again
No one is going to see me this way
And the closer to the top I get
The more they take aim
But I'm not you
I may not be perfect
But I've always been true
I may not be worthy in your eyes
Climbed up from the bottom
For the last time
The last one the last one
The last time
If I was perfect
Then this would be easy
Either road's plausible
On both I could drown
I walk through the center
With no rules to guide me
I realize it's difficult
But now I can see
Lyrics submitted by a7xcarlin07
Crossroads Lyrics as written by Matthew Sanders James Sullivan
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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ok, throughout all the A7X songs i always see ignorant people saying"he cant scream anymore cause of vocal chord surgery" this is false. it's true he did have this surgery, but this isn't the reason behind the lack of screams recently. This was the bands decision. The said that there first cd "Sounding the Seventh Trumpet" was a all screaming cd. "Waking The Fallen" was a half and half cd. and "City of Evil and their self-titled are aproximately 90% singing. If you want proof of this go watch their "All-Excess" dvd where they say this. please spred the word so theres no more confusion.
Btw, A7X is an amazing band, prefer Waking the Fallen, but not against their change.
I think this song is about religion. a7x loves this theme and it fits well.
the right (right hand of god, also the right politically tends to be more religious), there's a church on the right. he went that way first.(usually when we're younger we tend to believe what we are told so we follow down the path of blind belief first.
the left. (the left is traditionally a symbol of the devil, the opposite of god, left handed people used to be made to do things w/ their right hand b/c of this) "the left isn't better, condemning all these people for what they believe" - the road of the athiest, many judge religious ppl for their beliefs. "no one is going to save me this way" there is no 'salvation' on this road
If I was perfect then this would be easy (pretty obvious that if he was perfect then he would just know what path to choose) Either road is plausible on both I could drown (on either road he could get screwed if it's the wrong one) I walked through the center with no rules to guide me (he's chosen the path of the agnostic in the end)
If you wanted, you could see this as a political song too. right vs. left but I don't think that's the way they wanted it heard.
all-in-all the song is pretty good. not their best work but still a decent song
Great interpretation. As an Atheist, comparing your beliefs to a "whiskey hole" with drunks is a little unsettling, but I'll live.<br /> <br /> I think this could also simply apply to any major decision that appears in your life though.
i agree with u mo monkey i believe this song is of chosing what to believe in, and not being able to chose in the end.Sounds alot like myself if u ask me.
i believe that he is trying to find a way to believe in God and still live a full fun life. I try and live my life in that way and ideas from Walk by Pantera
slomifier, being the artists they are, I don't think they're literally painting atheists in such a picture, if you know what I mean.<br /> <br /> I think the emphasis of those lines are how from a religious viewpoint atheism seems like the easy and fun way out and "that's where [he] want[s] to be" until he realizes that it isn't "better it's just more of the same"
@mo money man if atheists judge ppl for their beliefs, then agnostics judge both sides. The songs looks more like he's on a crossroad between living by rules or to go yolo to live a full life. Or just don't need to choose between existing paths to live like others, but to walk your path to live your own way.
ok sikk. shadows ( aka Matthew Charles Sanders) and the rest of the band made the choice to not scream anymore. ik he still does but not quite enough as he used to.
anyway great song. love it. of course. all of their songs are the best EVER!
no one has really gotten it right yet! its obviously about polotics; the religious right and the liberal left. he's saying how we should be more nuetral "i walk through the center..." and look at inividual decisions, not just blindly follow our party "i make decisions one at a time and no ill never say im always right"
thats my oppinion at least.
Yah dude I can't believe no else has gotten it. It's obviously politics, especially with the phrase<br /> "The left isn't better, its just more of the same<br /> Condemning all these people for what they believe."<br /> <br /> Sounds like Shadows has issues with the right wing (republicans) and as a result turned to the left but is overcome with their excessive judgement of others.<br /> <br /> More people should strive for this middle ground sort of politics and stay away from labels. It's better to approach politics issue by issue<br /> "I make decisions one at a time and no I never say I'm always right"
@peaveylove the fact they use words like right, left and central (referencing centrism) and no one realizes is surprising. It also mimics youth where a lot of young people do go left before some, hopefully, most, realize that both sides condemn you for wrongthink. \r\n\r\nNot sure how people get religion, you either believe or you dont. There is no middle ground.
The song is about a man who sees both roads (right wing v. left wing I am guessing) as plausible, but bad on both side. The right, seems good first, but once you start to listen, you see the anger and hate they harbor. The left, just more of the same. Both sides condemn people based on what they believe, so he decides to climb a mountain to get away from both roads, and finds that both sides began attacking him. Basically, its about choosing sides, and how the right and left wings are so angry at each other they can't see a middle road.
i dnt know what it is but i really love these lyrics. overall, it's an awesome song, i dnt see y they didn't put it on the album tho. i think that mo money's analogy is close enough
i think its just about hard decisions in your life. right versus wrong. both are options and with both you could get screwed. i guess this could be about religion too.
This is already one of my favorite songs. I think alot of people will agree with me, because it's so easy to relate to. Everybody is faced with a life-changing decision, and it can be very hard to choose your path.
Hell yeah, can never get enough of a7x.
This songs amazing, so easy to relate to, and in more ways than one.
On another note..
Shadows and rev (specially rev) need to scream more. Its soothing.
I love this song. I don't know why they didn't put it on the album. :/
This song is just fabulous and I can't stop listening to it. Genius.