All of them were well prepared for death: The first - a farmer - left his farm to his son, who can continue cultivating the land, potentially feeding many people.
The second - a teacher - left the love for learning to her pupils, a good education can improve your life immeasurably.
The last - the preacher - left his Bible to the hooker (who might already be pregnant). This doesn't sound much, giving The Good Book to a fallen woman. However, before his death, he led a lot of people to the Lord. With his last act on earth, he saved her as well. The big deal here is not the fact that he saved one more person, but what happens next: She begins to read this Bible (possibly while still in hospital), repents of her sins, and passes this love for the Word on to her son when he grows up, he eventually becomes a preacher himself, continuing the work the accident victim did.
This song shows that, though a person is a sinner, the Love of God can redeem him IF he accepts it and repents. Furthermore, it shows how ONE SINGLE ACT of kindness can have an impact on many people.
On a side note, it also shows how prejudiced we as a people can be - the first time you listen to the song you think that the preacher telling the story is the one that was in the accident, and that he is blessing the farmer, the teacher and himself, omitting the hooker whom he thinks is not worthy of the Kingdom of God. Then comes the twist in the tale - the preacher died, the pastor telling the story is the son of the hooker.
Three Wooden Crosses
Randy Travis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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
The song "Three Wooden Crosses" by Randy Travis tells a story of a tragic bus accident that took place in Mexico. The bus is filled with passengers, each with their own goals and intentions. There is a farmer, a teacher, a hooker, and a preacher, all riding together on their way to their respective destinations. As they travel, they encounter an unfortunate and fatal event. The bus driver failed to stop at a stop sign, and as a result, the bus collided with a truck. Three of the four people on the bus were killed, leaving only the hooker as the sole survivor.
What's interesting about the song is that it emphasizes that what we leave behind at the end of our lives is more important than what we take with us. The song suggests that the things we do while we're alive, such as planting seeds of faith and love or imparting wisdom to others, are what truly matter in life. The three people who died in the accident all made significant contributions to others that were left as legacies, including a love of growing things, imparting wisdom, and sharing the gospel.
Another interpretation of the song is that it is a reminder that we all come from different walks of life and have different purposes, but in the end, death is the great equalizer. Regardless of our differences, we will all meet the same end, and the memories we leave behind are what will ultimately matter.
Overall, "Three Wooden Crosses" is a touching and poignant song about the fragility of life and the importance of making a meaningful impact in the world while we're here.
Line by Line Meaning
A farmer and a teacher, a hooker and a preacher
Four very different people with very different life experiences were riding on a bus together.
Ridin' on a midnight bus bound for Mexico
They were all on a trip, traveling together at night and going to Mexico.
One's headed for vacation, one for higher education
Two of the four people were headed to Mexico for leisure while the other two were heading there for educational or spiritual purposes.
And two of them were searchin' for lost souls
Two of the four people on the bus were actively looking for individuals in need of guidance or redemption.
That driver never ever saw the stop sign
The bus driver missed an important stop sign, leading to a tragic accident.
And eighteen wheelers can't stop on a dime
The accident was made worse by the fact that large trucks are not able to stop quickly.
There are three wooden crosses on the right side of the highway
Three people died in the accident and wooden crosses were placed on the side of the road as a memorial.
Why there's not four of them, Heaven only knows
The reason why only three people died in the accident is not clear, it could be attributed to fate or divine intervention.
I guess it's not what you take when you leave this world behind you
The things you collect in life don't matter once you pass away.
It's what you leave behind you when you go
What really holds value are the memories, experiences and positive legacies you leave for others to cherish.
That farmer left a harvest, a home and eighty acres
The farmer had a fruitful life and left behind a farm and a home, along with 80 acres of land.
The faith and love for growin' things in his young son's heart
He instilled a love for farming and nature in his child.
And that teacher left her wisdom in the minds of lots of children
The teacher imparted knowledge and skills to many students who she had taught.
Did her best to give 'em all a better start
She worked hard to ensure her students had a promising future ahead of them.
And that preacher whispered, 'Can't you see the Promised Land?'
The preacher shared a message of hope and encouraged people to envision a better future for themselves.
As he laid his blood-stained bible in that hooker's hand
In his last moments, the preacher gave his most prized possession, a bible, to a person who may have needed it most.
There are three wooden crosses on the right side of the highway
Three lives were lost in the accident and the crosses serve as a reminder of the tragedy.
Why there's not four of them, Heaven only knows
Once again, the reason why only three people died in the accident is not clear, perhaps even God does not know.
I guess it's not what you take when you leave this world behind you
What you take with you to the next life doesn't matter.
It's what you leave behind you when you go
Leaving behind a positive impact on others is what truly counts.
That's the story that our preacher told last Sunday
The preacher recounted this tale during his sermon.
As he held that blood-stained bible up
He used the preacher's blood-stained bible as a prop for emphasis.
For all of us to see
He wanted everyone in the congregation to pay attention and remember the story.
He said 'Bless the farmer, and the teacher, and the preacher
He blessed and honored the three who passed away in the accident and praised their positive impact on the world.
Who gave this Bible to my mama
The preacher explained that the blood-stained bible had been passed down to him from the hooker who received it in the accident.
Who read it to me'
The preacher then explained how his mother had read to him from that same bible during his childhood, making it a very valuable family heirloom.
There are three wooden crosses on the right side of the highway
The crosses stand as a symbol of the lives lost and the positive impact those people had on the world.
Why there's not four of them, now I guess we know
It is clear now that there were only three crosses because one person's legacy lived on.
It's not what you take when you leave this world behind you
It is not the worldly possessions you leave with - but rather the impact you make while living.
It's what you leave behind you when you go
The legacy that you pass on and the love and kindness you spread to others that truly remains after you have passed.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Kim Williams, Doug Johnson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind