Lyric discussion by Dianabol 

Cover art for Cross Road Blues lyrics by Robert Johnson

Taps, there's actually quite a lot of meaning in this song, you just need to know where to look.

"I went to the crossroad, fell down on my knees I went to the crossroad, fell down on my knees Asked the Lord above "Have mercy, now save poor Bob, if you please""

The crossroads are according to legend, as has been said, where one goes to sell his soul to the devil. Later, he regrets this decision and returns to the place where he did the deed, gets o his knees and prays to God for mercy, hoping to reverse the damage he's done.

"Yeoo, standin' at the crossroad, tried to flag a ride Ooo eeee, I tried to flag a ride Didn't nobody seem to know me, babe, everybody pass me by"

No matter how hard he tries to escape from the crossroads, which symbolize his sin, he cannot, he's symbolically trapped there. Not only that, nobody knows him, or will listen to him, they just pass him by. Just like God is doing to him right now, turning a blind eye to Bob's prayers. No help is coming.

"Standin' at the crossroad, baby, risin' sun goin' down Standin' at the crossroad, baby, eee, eee, risin' sun goin' down I believe to my soul, now, poor Bob is sinkin' down"

The sun going down symbolizes his life as it approaches its end. End of the day = end of his life, a common metaphor. As the day ends, his soul begins to sink, down into hell. As his time runs out, he's starting to regret his decision.

"You can run, you can run, tell my friend Willie Brown You can run, you can run, tell my friend Willie Brown That I got the crossroad blues this mornin', Lord, babe, I'm sinkin' down"

He's asking for help again, from his friends this time. Also could be a warning to another of his friends who sold his soul as well, that he is indeed "sinking down" or going to Hell.

"And I went to the crossroad, mama, I looked east and west I went to the crossroad, baby, I looked east and west Lord, I didn't have no sweet woman, ooh well, babe, in my distress"

He goes to the crossroads and looks East and West, he's looking for a way out, which he can't find. Finally, after all he's been through he dies alone, with no woman, uncared about.

Dianabol, I think you are exactly right. I don't think he goes into detail about him selling his soul because he'd be too ashamed of what he did and that's why the song isn't specific about what he did

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