Across the Borderline
Ry Cooder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Every street is paved with gold
And it's just across the borderline
And when it's time to take your turn
Here's a 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 (In the sad darkness)
Hoy tenemos que cruzar (today we have to cross)
Este rÃo que nos llama mas alla (this river which calls us further away)
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
The lyrics of Ry Cooder's "Across the Borderline" tell a powerful story about hope, loss, and the unyielding human spirit. The song speaks of a place where every street is paved with gold, and yet the journey to that promised land is fraught with challenges and hardships. The song starts with a description of this destination, a place where riches and success are said to be available to everyone who crosses the borderline. However, the song then takes a darker turn, warning listeners that they could "lose more than [they] ever hope to find" if they are not careful. The reality of the "broken promised land" is not always as bright as it seems from afar, and many who arrive there find that their dreams have slipped through their fingers.
The song's lyrics are also filled with imagery that conveys a sense of both longing and desperation. The Rio Grande, which forms the border between the United States and Mexico, serves as a metaphor for the journey that the singer and others are embarking on as they attempt to cross into a new life. The river is described as flowing "like a breath in between our life and death," emphasizing the seriousness of the journey and the high stakes involved. The final lines of the song emphasize both the distance that remains between the singer and his or her goal ("you're still just across the borderline") and the truth that hope can still exist even in the face of disappointment ("hope remains when pride is gone").
Overall, "Across the Borderline" is a poignant and complex exploration of the challenges that many face when attempting to leave one life for another. It acknowledges the many obstacles that can arise along the way, but it also offers a glimmer of hope for those who keep moving forward despite these obstacles.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a place where I've been told
The singer has heard about a place.
Every street is paved with gold
The place the singer has heard about has streets that are paved with gold.
And it's just across the borderline
The place the singer has heard about is just across the borderline.
And when it's time to take your turn
When it's your turn to go to the place the artist has heard about.
Here's a lesson that you must learn
The artist is going to give some advice.
You could lose more than you'll ever hope to find
The singer is warning that you could lose more than you'll gain by going to the place with the gold-paved streets.
When you reach the broken promised land
When you arrive at the destination, it will be a disappointment.
And every dream slips through your hands
All of your hopes and dreams will be unachievable.
Then you'll know that it's too late to change your mind
Once you're there, it's too late to turn back.
'Cause you've paid the price to come so far
You've already invested too much to give up now.
Just to wind up where you are
You've come all this way only to end up where you started.
And you're still just across the borderline
You haven't even reached the destination yet.
Up and down the Rio Grande
Along the Rio Grande river.
A thousand footprints in the sand
Many people have come before you who have also tried to reach the place with gold-paved streets.
Reveal a secret no one can define
It's unclear what makes people continue to try to reach the place with gold-paved streets, despite the risks and lack of guaranteed reward.
The river flows on like a breath
The river is constantly flowing, like the breathing of life.
In between our life and death
The river represents the space between life and death.
Tell me who's the next to cross the borderline
The singer is wondering who will be the next person to try to cross the borderline and reach the place with gold-paved streets.
En la triste oscuridad
In the sad darkness.
Hoy tenemos que cruzar
Today we have to cross.
Este río que nos llama mas alla
This river which calls us further away.
But hope remains when pride is gone
Even when things seem hopeless, having hope can help keep you going when your pride is gone.
And it keeps you moving on
Hope can be a motivating force to keep you going.
Calling you across the borderline
Hope is pulling you towards crossing the borderline and trying to reach the place with gold-paved streets.
Now you're still just across the borderline
The reminder that you still have not reached the destination, and that it may not be all it's cracked up to be.
And you're still just across the borderline
The last line of the song acts as a refrain, repeating the same message that the destination may not be as great as people think it is.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: James Luther Dickinson, John Robert Hiatt, Ryland Peter Cooder
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@LucioRozendo
ACROSS THE BORDERLINE
(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 (In the sad darkness)
hoy tenemos que cruzar (today we have to cross)
este rÃo que nos llama más allá (this river which calls us further away)
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
ACROSS THE limítrofe
(Ry Cooder John Hiatt James Dickinson)
Há um lugar onde eu tenho dito
Cada rua é pavimentada com ouro
E é do outro lado da fronteira
E quando é hora de tomar a sua vez
Aqui está uma lição que você deve aprender
Você pode perder mais do que você jamais a esperança de encontrar
Quando você chegar à terra prometida quebrado
E cada sonho desliza através de suas mãos
Então você saberá que é tarde demais para mudar sua mente
Porque você pagou o preço para vir até aqui
Só para acabar onde você está
E você ainda está do outro lado da fronteira
subir e descer o Rio Grande
A pegadas mil na areia
Revelar um segredo que ninguém pode definir
O rio corre sobre como um sopro
Em entre a nossa vida ea morte
Diga-me quem é o próximo a cruzar a fronteira
En la triste oscuridad (Na escuridão triste)
hoy tenemos that Cruzar (hoje temos de atravessar)
este Rao Que nsa llama más allà ¡ (este rio que nos chama mais longe)
Mas a esperança permanece quando o orgulho está desaparecido
E isso mantém você em movimento
Chamá-lo do outro lado da fronteira
Quando você chegar à terra prometida quebrado
Cada sonho desliza através de suas mãos
E você sabe que é tarde demais para mudar de idéia
Porque você pagar o preço para vir até aqui
Só para acabar onde você está
E você ainda está do outro lado da fronteira
Agora você ainda está do outro lado da fronteira
E você ainda está do outro lado da fronteira
@lisaenlisa
There's a place so I've been told,
Where every street is paved with gold.
And it's just across the borderline.
And when it's time to take your turn
There is a lesson that you must learn.
You could lose more than you ever
thought you'd find.
And when you reach the broken promise land,
And all your dreams slip through your hands
And you know it's too late to change your mind.
Because you've paid the price to come so far,
Just to wind up where you are.
And you're still just across the borderline.
And when you reach the broken promise land,
And all your dreams slip through your hands
And you know it's too late to change your mind.
Because you've paid the price to come so far,
Just to wind up where you are.
And you're still just across the borderline.
Now up and down the Rio Grande,
A thousand footprints in the sand,
Reveal a secret no one can define.
The river rolls on like a breath,
In between our life and death.
Tell me who's the next to cross the borderline.
And when you reach the broken promise land,
And all your dreams slip through your hands,
And you know it's too late to change your mind.
Because you've paid the price to come so far,
Just to wind up where you are.
And you're still just across the borderline.
And you're still just across the borderline.
Somebody
Tell me who's the next to across the borderline
@vincenzocivetta
There's a place so I've been told,
Where every street is paved with gold.
And it's just across the borderline.
And when it's time to take your turn
There is a lesson that you must learn.
You could lose more than you ever
thought you'd find.
And when you reach the broken promise land,
And all your dreams slip through your hands
And you know it's too late to change your mind.
Because you've paid the price to come so far,
Just to wind up where you are.
And you're still just across the borderline.
And when you reach the broken promise land,
And all your dreams slip through your hands
And you know it's too late to change your mind.
Because you've paid the price to come so far,
Just to wind up where you are.
And you're still just across the borderline.
Now up and down the Rio Grande,
A thousand footprints in the sand,
Reveal a secret no one can define.
The river rolls on like a breath,
In between our life and death.
Tell me who's the next to cross the borderline.
And when you reach the broken promise land,
And all your dreams slip through your hands,
And you know it's too late to change your mind.
Because you've paid the price to come so far,
Just to wind up where you are.
And you're still just across the borderline.
And you're still just across the borderline.
Somebody
Tell me who's the next to across the borderline
@bartjoy5179
This is a masterpiece. The subject of that one line in the dirt,and the people who died and are dying today just to be on the right side, breaks my heart.
@tmo7734
Amen, Bart. Thank you.
@travisbickle9447
This song is more relevant now than ever.
@jamesmatthews8238
Ry Cooder brings tears to my eyes. Not once.
@johnnyp8979
Ry Cooder's romantically filled guitar notes...
BEAUTIFUL. !
@NevadaBoss
a truly beautiful, amazingly portentous song....vastly underrated like the man who wrote it.
@oskarbore
The best slide solo ever !!!! Technical and feelings united !!!
@1957PLATO
Ry the treasurer of American musical heritage
@leavandenbosch9090
I have heard this song reently on radio Clara, I loved th song and picked up the title
@jccully
this is the best version ever!