Three Wooden Crosses
Randy Travis
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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, An' two of them were searchin' for lost souls That driver never ever saw the stop sign An' 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 an' love for growin' things in his young son's heart An' that teacher left her wisdom in the minds of lots of children: Did her best to give 'em all a better start An' 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, an' 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
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Written by: Kim Williams, Doug Johnson
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, MIKE CURB MUSIC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
11 facts about this song
Song Release"Three Wooden Crosses" is a song by American country music artist Randy Travis. It was released in November 2002 as the lead single from his album, "Rise and Shine".
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Chart PerformanceThis song became Randy Travis's 16th number-one single and his first since "Whisper My Name" in 1994. It also reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.
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Lyrics and ThemesTelling the story of three people who lose their lives in a tragic road crash, the song illustrates a poignant narrative of morality, sacrifice, and redemption. The "three wooden crosses" refer to the crosses often found near roadside accident sites, commonly used as memorial markers.
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Song Writing"Three Wooden Crosses" was written by popular country music songwriters Doug Johnson and Kim Williams.
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AccoladesConsidered a powerful and thought-provoking song, "Three Wooden Crosses" was named Song of the Year by the Country Music Association in 2003, giving Randy Travis a major industry award.
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Impact on Randy's CareerThis song helped rejuvenate Randy Travis's career and reestablished him as a prominent fixture in country music.
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Return After HiatusThe release of "Three Wooden Crosses" marked Randy Travis’s return to his country and gospel roots after a hiatus and a period of acting in various film and television roles.
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Cross-Genre SuccessThough distinctly a country song, "Three Wooden Crosses" was also warmly received by the Christian and gospel music audience due to its religious themes.
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Unique StorytellingThe song differs from many of its contemporaries by its narrative-led storytelling, with the story behind the "three wooden crosses" only fully revealed towards the end of the song.
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Cover VersionsSince its release, "Three Wooden Crosses" has been covered by several artists, demonstrating its impact on and resonance in country music.
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Digital SalesDespite being released prior to the digital era, the song has achieved significant digital sales, demonstrating its continued popularity. In 2016, it was certified Platinum by the RIAA, signifying over a million digital copies sold.
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