Grand Central
Paul Cauthen Lyrics

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If I get to heaven, I better roll me some sevens,
Cause right now my ticket's punched for hell
You rage and fade, I miss too many Sundays
Lord if You hear me I could surley use some help
Cause I like to ride the lightning,
They ain't gunna hang me from a tree
Cause the things I've done ain't hurt no one
The only one that's hurt is me

The only one that's hurt is me
Grand Central Station sounded better than graduation
So I packed my bags, so long I'm on a train
Headed to Atlanta,
I might shoot down to Savannah
Whatever I choose to do I'll be free
I like to ride the lightning,
They ain't gunna hang me from a tree
Cause the things I've done ain't hurt no one
Only one that's hurt is me
The only one that's hurt is me
Oh the things I've done ain't hurt no one
The only one that's hurt is me
The only one that's hurt is me...
Cause I like to ride the lightning,
They ain't gunna hang me from a tree
Cause the things I've done ain't hurt no one
Only one that's hurt is me
The only one that's hurt is me
Oh the things I've done ain't hurt no one

Only one that's hurt is me
The only one that's hurt is me

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of Paul Cauthen's song "Grand Central" set the tone for the rest of the song: "If I get to heaven, I better roll me some sevens, cause right now my ticket's punched for hell." Cauthen is a man who has made his share of mistakes and recognizes that he may not be headed in the right direction. The reference to sevens is likely a nod to the game of craps, where rolling a seven is a lucky outcome. By contrast, Cauthen seems to feel that he has pushed his luck too far and is on the path to damnation.

The chorus expresses a sense of resignation and defiance. Cauthen declares that he likes to "ride the lightning," a phrase that has been associated with the electric chair and execution. He adds that no one will hang him from a tree, a reference to the history of lynching in the American South. By embracing this imagery, Cauthen seems to be saying that he has already faced some of the worst that life (and death) can offer, and he is still standing. He admits that the things he has done have hurt him more than anyone else, but he won't be brought down by them.

The verses of "Grand Central" suggest that Cauthen is on the move. He has left his hometown for somewhere else, possibly Atlanta or Savannah. The reference to Grand Central Station is interesting, as there is no direct train service to either of these cities from New York City's Grand Central Terminal. However, the idea of a departure point for a journey makes sense in the context of the song. Cauthen has left behind the past and is looking for a new start. The final lines repeat the sentiment of the chorus, that the only person who has been hurt by his mistakes is himself. Overall, "Grand Central" is a song about self-awareness, regret, and a desire to move forward in the face of adversity.

Line by Line Meaning

If I get to heaven, I better roll me some sevens,
If I make it to heaven, I need to have some good luck because I know I don't deserve it.

Cause right now my ticket's punched for hell
I know I'm destined for punishment because of the bad choices I've made.

You rage and fade, I miss too many Sundays
I've let my anger get the best of me and it's caused me to miss out on important things in life.

Lord if You hear me I could surley use some help
I'm asking You, God, to give me some guidance and assistance because I can't do this on my own.

Cause I like to ride the lightning,
I'm not afraid to take risks and do things that others might consider foolish or dangerous.

They ain't gunna hang me from a tree
I know I've made mistakes, but I don't deserve to be punished to the extent of lynching.

Cause the things I've done ain't hurt no one
I might have made poor choices, but I haven't intentionally caused harm to anyone else.

The only one that's hurt is me
My actions have only caused damage to myself.

Grand Central Station sounded better than graduation
I chose to leave my old life behind and start fresh, even if it means missing out on typical milestones.

So I packed my bags, so long I'm on a train
I'm leaving my past behind to embark on a new journey, even if I don't know where it will take me.

Headed to Atlanta,
I'm going to make my way to a new city to start fresh.

I might shoot down to Savannah
I might take a detour to another place to see what other opportunities are available.

Whatever I choose to do I'll be free
I'm excited to have the freedom to create my own path without being tied down by anyone else's expectations.

Oh the things I've done ain't hurt no one
I might have made bad choices, but I haven't caused harm to others in the process.

Only one that's hurt is me
I'm the only one who has suffered the consequences of my actions.

Writer(s): Paul Mark Cauthen

Contributed by Ellie C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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