The Road To Hell
Rea Lyrics


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We'll I'm standing by a river but the water doesn't flow
It boils with every poison you can think of
Then I'm underneath the streetlights
But the light of joy I know
Scared beyond belief way down in the shadows

And the perverted fear of violence chokes a smile on every face
And common sense is ringing out the bells
This ain't no technological breakdown
Oh no, this is the road to Hell

And all the roads jam up with credit
And there's nothing you can do
It's all just bits of paper flying away from you
Oh, look out world
Take a good look what comes down here
You must learn this lesson fast and learn it well

This ain't no upwardly mobile freeway
Oh no, this is the road




Said, this is the road
This is the road to Hell

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of Chris Rea's song 'The Road to Hell' paint a gloomy picture of standing by a river that doesn't flow- a metaphorical image for stagnation, lack of change or progression. The water being severely polluted suggests that the society is being poisoned by harmful practices of individuals who couldn't care less for the environment. Being underneath the street lights normally signifies safety, with the implication being that light often overcomes darkness. However, despite being under a source of light, Chris uses the 'light of joy', providing the impression that joy itself isn't enough to dispel the sense of confusion or uncertainty he feels.


The violence-related fears in society pervade and choke every smile. It is ironic that in a society so developed with cutting-edge technology, Chris feels like this is not an issue related to technological breakdowns but rather a social one. The lyrics suggest that something is fundamentally wrong with the way individuals are living their lives in society. The use of the words 'perverted fear' is interesting, indicating that perhaps the pervasive fear of violence is distorted, over-exaggerated and blown out of proportion. The last two lines of this verse ring out the bells of common sense, marking a call to individuals to question and evaluate their situation and surroundings.


The chorus brings together the image of a road with its purpose of taking someone from one point to another, but all roads are clogged up with things like credit, an indication of the endless pursuit of materialistic desires. Money and consumerism play a significant role in the world we live in, and Chris seems to be highlighting the dark side of this world where nothing is enough, and all that is left is pieces of paper flying away. Chris finalizes the chorus, stating that the journey is not merely an upwardly mobile freeway, where all is good and fine but rather the road to hell, painting a bleak image of the path society is heading down.


Line by Line Meaning

We'll I'm standing by a river but the water doesn't flow
Although I am physically situated by a river, it appears that the water is stagnant and does not flow.


It boils with every poison you can think of
The water is full of so many poisons that it no longer appears to be water.


Then I'm underneath the streetlights
I move to a different location, one that is well-lit.


But the light of joy I know
Even though there is light around me, I cannot feel joy.


Scared beyond belief way down in the shadows
My fear is overwhelming and is so intense that it feels like a physical weight pushing down on me.


And the perverted fear of violence chokes a smile on every face
Everyone appears to be smiling, but it is only because they are trying to hide their twisted fear of violence.


And common sense is ringing out the bells
I realize that logic and rationality are not prevalent in this situation.


This ain't no technological breakdown
This is not a problem that can be resolved with technology.


Oh no, this is the road to Hell
This situation is leading to disaster.


And all the roads jam up with credit
The monetary system is broken and no one has any control over it.


And there's nothing you can do
There is no solution or remedy to this problem.


It's all just bits of paper flying away from you
Money is becoming worthless and is no longer of any value.


Oh, look out world
The situation is getting worse and is about to impact the entire world.


Take a good look what comes down here
It is important to observe what is happening in order to learn from it.


You must learn this lesson fast and learn it well
It is imperative to understand the gravity of the situation and learn from it as quickly as possible.


This ain't no upwardly mobile freeway
This is not a path to success and prosperity.


Said, this is the road
Emphasizes that this is the only way and that there are no other options available.


This is the road to Hell
The situation is dire and things are only going to get worse.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Christopher Anton Rea

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@ashsgengar

Who’s listening to this masterpiece in 2024!?

@adamatei5729

P

@tontonfp

moi

@christinaomalie429

3/15/2024. Ides of March!! It still pisses me off how this genius guitarist slipped past me back in the day!

@jt7309

Me

@carlsam1516

I'm going to learn it on the guitar

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@TheBhimasur

Who all are still listening to this masterclass in 2024 ....... 👍👍👍

@dikiykipovec4918

Я слушаю, очень люблю песни Криса Ри

@felixsoft4301

Я тоже!
@@dikiykipovec4918

@TinDoors

Everytime 👍

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