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Southside of Heaven Lyrics
When I die lord I want you put my soul up on a train
Wont you send it southbound give it a cool bluesman name
Cuz I've been lost on them back roads so many times I've gone blind
And losing faith in my family had driven me outta my damn mind
But on the south side of heaven wont you take me home
Cuz I've been broke down for so long and Lord it's getting cold
Well I've been a desperado in West Texas for so long Lord I need a change
For ten long years this old place ain't seen a drop of rain
And that wind blows everyday Lord oh like a desert snow
Like a lost bound train running on cocaine outta control
But on the south side of heaven wont you take me home
Cuz I've been broke down for so long and Lord it's getting cold
Well on down the Louisiana byways the lonesome Highways roll on
Wont you take me where the poor man lives its where I call my home
And can't you see that a breeze is nothin but a change in pace
Money can't buy my soul because it comes from a hard earned place
But on the south side of heaven wont you take me home
Cuz I've been gone for so long and Lord it's getting cold
But on the south side of heaven wont you take me home
Cuz I've been gone for so long and Lord it's getting cold
Wont you send it southbound give it a cool bluesman name
Cuz I've been lost on them back roads so many times I've gone blind
And losing faith in my family had driven me outta my damn mind
Cuz I've been broke down for so long and Lord it's getting cold
For ten long years this old place ain't seen a drop of rain
And that wind blows everyday Lord oh like a desert snow
Like a lost bound train running on cocaine outta control
Cuz I've been broke down for so long and Lord it's getting cold
Wont you take me where the poor man lives its where I call my home
And can't you see that a breeze is nothin but a change in pace
Money can't buy my soul because it comes from a hard earned place
Cuz I've been gone for so long and Lord it's getting cold
But on the south side of heaven wont you take me home
Cuz I've been gone for so long and Lord it's getting cold
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Ryan Bingham. Damn, what a musician. Great Song!
But, this is how I would interpret this song:
Ryan used to travel around New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma, playing "dive-bars" and entering into bull ridings calling his van "home," and even being homeless at times for several years. I kind of feel like this song is his way of pleading for a place of peace. A place to live, prosper, and be happy.
So he's asking God to show him his home on the south side of heaven, because he's tired of trying to find it... And he even really doesn't mind if it's luxurious or not, just looking for "his place," and maybe that place IS "where the poor man lives"... Ryan sees no monetary value in happiness.
I think this seems to be an accurate picture of what the lyrics communicate since most of the lines corroborate that theory, but this is a great song open to all kinds of interpretations and it could be seen differently by each individual person. Though, I kinda feel that this is what Ryan was trying to say here.
So I figured I'd comment cuz he plays songs like my dead grandad. Its a feeling you gotta live to know and a way you cant take a photo of to explain. Its a wind that changes ya as ya walk, but man its sweet in its plain pain, hell i hope he reaches the place hes always wanted to go... Safe travels Ryan, you got the coolest bluesman name Ive ever heard
The southside of heaven is this earth. And you don't need a place to live, prosper and be happy, if you seek happiness you will find it. Even in a van being homeless. Money doesn't mean shit.