Three Wooden Crosses

Album: Rise and Shine (2002)
Charted: 31
Play Video
  • 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
    And two of them were searchin' for lost souls
    That driver never ever saw the stop sign
    And 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 and love for growin' things in his young son's heart
    And that teacher left her wisdom in the minds of lots of children
    Did her best to give 'em all a better start
    And 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, and 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 Writer/s: Doug Johnson, Kim Williams
    Publisher: Capitol CMG Publishing, O/B/O DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 3

  • Camille from Toronto, OhNo only no haters...it is now November 2012...about 10 years after Three Wooden Crosses was hit...I just saw Randy Travis and the Avett Brothers sing this song on a new CMT Crossroads and it is incredible. I predict their collaboration will propel the song into the music charts again, and rightly so. The vocals, so rich, so layered, so wonderful to listen to.
  • Joe from Grants Pass, Orgreat song and i love the fact that theres no haters but theres only 1 comment ....................acward still awsome song
  • Karen from Manchester, NhThe twist ending to this song always brings tears to my eyes. Great song.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Sam Hollander

Sam HollanderSongwriter Interviews

The hitmaking songwriter/producer Sam Hollander with stories about songs for Weezer, Panic! At The Disco, Train, Pentatonix, and Fitz And The Tantrums.

Jesus In Pop Hits: The Gospel Songs That Went Mainstream

Jesus In Pop Hits: The Gospel Songs That Went MainstreamSong Writing

These overtly religious songs crossed over to the pop charts, despite resistance from fans, and in many cases, churches.

Divided Souls: Musical Alter Egos

Divided Souls: Musical Alter EgosSong Writing

Long before Eminem, Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj created alternate personas, David Bowie, Bono, Joni Mitchell and even Hank Williams took on characters.

Creedence Clearwater Revival

Creedence Clearwater RevivalFact or Fiction

Is "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" about Vietnam? Was John Fogerty really born on a Bayou? It's the CCR edition of Fact or Fiction.

The Real Nick Drake

The Real Nick DrakeSong Writing

The head of Drake's estate shares his insights on the late folk singer's life and music.

Rupert Hine

Rupert HineSongwriter Interviews

Producer Rupert Hine talks about crafting hits for Tina Turner, Howard Jones and The Fixx.