The Crossing
Big Country Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Point to the cross
Scratches on walls in a room
Draw out your loss
Your islands are conquered and you are returned
To the throne
Martyrs take penance and fill up the mattress
With stones
Chorus
Pull straws with holy men
Stain all the atlas pink
And let us find a beach
Where we can cross our hearts
Stand in the wind as the carousels spin
Wear out your welcome again
Stand in the silence of mountains and
Wear out your welcome again
Mornings hit hard with an uncontrollable light
Piercing the senses that click deep in the night
Crouched in a pillow of straw feet on the floor
Creeping a path to the mat that holds back the door
Chorus
Build up great railways that run through the horns of the moon
Hold up a city with cast-iron museum walls
Explain your machines to the boys feed them with tools
Bring out the skill in your skin polish your hair
Chorus
Stand in the wind as the carousels spin
Wear out your welcome again
Stand on the silence of mountains and
Take your rib down to the sea
Stand in the wind as the carousels spin
Wear out your welcome again
Stand on the silence of mountains and
Take your rib down to the sea
The song "The Crossing" by Big Country is a poetic and metaphorical exploration of a journey of self-discovery and rediscovery. The first two lines, "Maps on the back of your hands, point to the cross," suggest that the singer has a sense of direction and purpose but is also grappling with issues of faith and identity. The scratches on the walls in a room represent the scars and losses that the character has experienced.
The next line, "Your islands are conquered and you are returned, to the throne," suggests that the singer has faced adversity but has found strength in overcoming it. The martyrs who take penance and fill up the mattress with stones represent the weight of guilt and sacrifice that the singer feels. The chorus introduces religious symbolism with references to holy men and the staining of the atlas pink, which can be interpreted as a reference to the blood of sacrifice or devotion.
Line by Line Meaning
Maps on the back of your hands
Your body is a map, a guide to your destiny
Point to the cross
Look to faith for guidance
Scratches on walls in a room
Memories of past losses remain etched in your mind
Draw out your loss
Confront and accept past losses as part of your journey
Your islands are conquered and you are returned
You have faced various challenges and overcome them to regain your power
To the throne
You are in control of your destiny
Martyrs take penance and fill up the mattress
People who suffer for a cause will be rewarded
With stones
Their hard work and sacrifices will make a lasting impact
Pull straws with holy men
Take risks and seek guidance from those with faith
Stain all the atlas pink
Leave your mark on the world through your experiences
And let us find a beach
A place of peace and tranquility where you can ponder your journey
Where we can cross our hearts
A place of honesty and openness with yourself and others
Stand in the wind as the carousels spin
Embrace the chaos and uncertainty of life
Wear out your welcome again
Be persistent in your pursuits, don't give up easily
Stand in the silence of mountains and
Take time for reflection and introspection
Mornings hit hard with an uncontrollable light
The start of the day can be overwhelming and unpredictable
Piercing the senses that click deep in the night
The transition from sleep to wakefulness can be jarring
Crouched in a pillow of straw feet on the floor
Starting the day with humility and gratitude
Creeping a path to the mat that holds back the door
Starting a new day with courage to face whatever lies ahead
Build up great railways that run through the horns of the moon
Create something great and enduring that transcends traditional barriers
Hold up a city with cast-iron museum walls
Be a foundation of strength for others, preserving history and culture
Explain your machines to the boys feed them with tools
Teach and inspire the next generation
Bring out the skill in your skin polish your hair
Present yourself confidently and with pride
Take your rib down to the sea
Surrender your ego and connect with the world around you
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BIG COUNTRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Reiver Eigenerfde-Yeoman
Maps on the back of your hands point to the cross
Scratches on walls in a room draw out your loss
Your islands are conquered and
You are returned to the throne
Martyrs take penance and
Fill up the mattress with stones
Pull straws with holy men
Stain all the atlas pink
And let us find a beach
Where we can cross our hearts
Stand in the wind as the carousels spin
Wear out your welcome again
Stand on the silence of mountains and
Wear out your welcome again
Mornings hit hard with an uncontrollable light
Piercing the senses that click deep in the night
Crouched in a pillow of straw feet on the floor
Creeping a path to the mat that holds back the door
Pull straws with holy men
Stain all the atlas pink
And let us find a beach
Where we can cross our hearts
Build up great railways that run
Through the horns of the moon
Hold up a city with cast iron museum walls
Explain your machines to the boys feed them with tools
Bring out the skill in your skin polish your hair
Pull straws with holy men
Stain all the atlas pink
And let us find a beach
Where we can cross our hearts
Stand in the wind as the carousels spin
Wear out your welcome again
Stand on the silence of mountains
And take a look down to the sea
Stand in the wind as the carousels spin
Wear out your welcome again
Stand on the silence of mountains
And take a look down to the sea
TXF
Strange how a single song can make you feel so many emotions at the same time... each time I hear it, my soul goes through decades of nostalgia.
David Farrell
BIG COUNTRY 4 EVER! WILL NEVER STOP LISTENING TO THE CLASSICS.
Reiver Eigenerfde-Yeoman
Maps on the back of your hands point to the cross
Scratches on walls in a room draw out your loss
Your islands are conquered and
You are returned to the throne
Martyrs take penance and
Fill up the mattress with stones
Pull straws with holy men
Stain all the atlas pink
And let us find a beach
Where we can cross our hearts
Stand in the wind as the carousels spin
Wear out your welcome again
Stand on the silence of mountains and
Wear out your welcome again
Mornings hit hard with an uncontrollable light
Piercing the senses that click deep in the night
Crouched in a pillow of straw feet on the floor
Creeping a path to the mat that holds back the door
Pull straws with holy men
Stain all the atlas pink
And let us find a beach
Where we can cross our hearts
Build up great railways that run
Through the horns of the moon
Hold up a city with cast iron museum walls
Explain your machines to the boys feed them with tools
Bring out the skill in your skin polish your hair
Pull straws with holy men
Stain all the atlas pink
And let us find a beach
Where we can cross our hearts
Stand in the wind as the carousels spin
Wear out your welcome again
Stand on the silence of mountains
And take a look down to the sea
Stand in the wind as the carousels spin
Wear out your welcome again
Stand on the silence of mountains
And take a look down to the sea
Andrew Duckett
Poetry Stuart Adamson unbelievable guitarist wonderful lyricist rest in eternal peace Stuart big country fans the world over Will never forget the songs you left them
DioBach
Them's some weird lyrics that are completely different to the ones I had in my head all these years. I love this song, it's one of my all time favourites, it really struck home driving in a coach through the Austrian alps, and every time I hear that guitar rich outro I'm there in the snow as a teen, back in the 1980s. Bliss.
Gord-zilla
Thank you for this... LOVE this song...wow.. just perfection for me :)
POPS XOGMP
What a masterpiece this song is...speaks to the hairs on the back of my neck everytime.
Nick BLAKENEY
BC had the amazing ability to play multiple tunes within one tune. Changing the pace, rhythm and style all within one song. That's why a lot of their songs are 6+ minutes long and this is a classic example of that.
The Storm and Porrohman jump to mind although Red Fox from The Seer also changes from half way through and is only just over 4 minutes long
Nick BLAKENEY
@Willsin Rowe Yes from about the 2 minutes mark https://youtu.be/bGMb5ejD6Fg?t=121 and again at https://youtu.be/bGMb5ejD6Fg?t=206
Willsin Rowe
The Sailor is another beautiful example of exactly that.