Fix what’s wrong, but don’t rewrite what the artist wrote. Stick to the official released version — album booklet, label site, verified lyric video, etc. If you’re guessing, pause and double-check.
Respect the structure
Songs have rhythm. Pages do too. Leave line breaks where they belong. Don’t smash things together or add extra empty space just for looks.
Punctuation counts (but vibe-editing doesn’t)
Correct typos? Yes. Re-punctuating a whole verse because it ‘looks better’? Probably not. Keep capitalization and punctuation close to the official source.
Don’t mix versions
If you’re editing the explicit version, keep it explicit. If it’s the clean version, keep it clean. No mashups.
Let the lyrics be lyrics
This isn’t the place for interpretations, memories, stories, or trivia — that’s what comments are for. Keep metadata, translations, and bracketed stage directions out unless they’re officially part of the song.
Edit lightly
If two lines are wrong… fix the two lines. No need to bulldoze the whole page. Think ‘surgical,’ not ‘remix.’
When in doubt, ask the crowd
Not sure what they’re singing in that fuzzy bridge? Drop a question in the comments and let the music nerds swarm. Someone always knows.
There’s a place where I’ve been told
Every street is paved with gold
And it’s just across the borderline
And when it’s time to take your turn
Here’s one lesson that you must learn
You could lose more than you’ll ever hope to find
When you reach the broken promised land
And every dream slips through your hands
Then you’ll know that it’s too late to change your mind
’cause you’ve paid the price to come so far
Just to wind up where you are
And you’re still just across the borderline
Up and down the rio grande
A thousand footprints in the sand
Reveal a secret no one can define
The river flows on like a breath
In between our life and death
Tell me who’s the next to cross the borderline
En la triste oscuridad
Hoy tenemos que cruzar
Este rÃo que nos llama más allá
But hope remains when pride is gone
And it keeps you moving on
Calling you across the borderline
When you reach the broken promised land
Every dream slips through your hands
And you’ll know it’s too late to change your mind
’cause you pay the price to come so far
Just to wind up where you are
And you’re still just across the borderline
Now you’re still just across the borderline
And you’re still just across the borderline
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
Well, I'll just do it here then
Across The Borderline Lyrics
(ry cooder/john hiatt/james dickinson)
There’s a place where I’ve been told Every street is paved with gold And it’s just across the borderline And when it’s time to take your turn Here’s one lesson that you must learn You could lose more than you’ll ever hope to find
When you reach the broken promised land And every dream slips through your hands Then you’ll know that it’s too late to change your mind ’cause you’ve paid the price to come so far Just to wind up where you are And you’re still just across the borderline
Up and down the rio grande A thousand footprints in the sand Reveal a secret no one can define The river flows on like a breath In between our life and death Tell me who’s the next to cross the borderline
En la triste oscuridad Hoy tenemos que cruzar Este rÃo que nos llama más allá
But hope remains when pride is gone And it keeps you moving on Calling you across the borderline
When you reach the broken promised land Every dream slips through your hands And you’ll know it’s too late to change your mind ’cause you pay the price to come so far Just to wind up where you are And you’re still just across the borderline Now you’re still just across the borderline And you’re still just across the borderline