The Other Side
Sean McConnell Lyrics


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Snowed this mornin'
That kind of cold
Where your car won't start
And your heart won't go

The headwaters up here will freeze your bones
But they say I can float this river home
It's that long

Chorus:
The Mississippi river runs so wide
The biggest tear God ever cried
Right now it feels like the great divide
And Lord I want to be on the other side
And Lord I want to be on the other side

Where that icy water turns to mud
And tastes dirty like it always should
Wehre they talk lazy
And they walk slow
And there's gospel in the radio
That's where I want to go

Chorus

50 miles til I get home
But when you're this close miles go twice as long

When I cross over
I'm going to get down
Gonna close my eyes and kiss the ground





Chorus

Overall Meaning

Sean McConnell's song The Other Side is a reflective piece about the overwhelming urge to go home in a harsh world. The first stanza paints a winter scene where everything is cold and uninviting. The desolation of this scene is only matched by the barrenness of the singer's mental space. The chorus delivers the theme of the song, evoking images of the wide Mississippi River, which separates the singer from his home. He invokes God, asking to be on the other side of the river, which represents a better place, a utopia where he can experience comfort and love.


In the second verse, the singer describes his ideal destination on the other side of the river. He yearns for a slower pace of life, where things are relaxed and easy-going, and where he can connect with the gospel music on the radio. He describes his journey, underscoring the tension between his intense desire to get home and the interminable distance between his present location and his destination.


The song reaches a cathartic climax in the third verse, where the singer finally crosses the river and kisses the ground. This experience represents a coming back to life after a long period of dormancy in a harsh world. The Other Side is a deeply relatable song that touches on the longing for home that exists in all of us.


Line by Line Meaning

Snowed this mornin'
It snowed heavily this morning


That kind of cold
The cold is so intense it's hard to ignore


Where your car won't start
The cold weather hasn't been kind to your car


And your heart won't go
The cold weather fills you with a sense of darkness and inability to move forward


The headwaters up here will freeze your bones
The freezing cold water up north can be deadly


But they say I can float this river home
Despite the danger, there is a belief that one can make it through and get to where they want to go


It's that long
The journey is long and difficult


The Mississippi river runs so wide
The Mississippi river is incredibly wide


The biggest tear God ever cried
The vastness of the river is such that it feels like it could only have been created by God


Right now it feels like the great divide
The river feels like a significant obstacle to overcome


And Lord I want to be on the other side
I want to reach the other side of the river


Where that icy water turns to mud
I want to get to where the river is less dangerous and more manageable


And tastes dirty like it always should
Where the water is less clean and less pure, as it feels more like home


Wehre they talk lazy
Where the people speak slowly and calmly


And they walk slow
Where people take their time walking


And there's gospel in the radio
Listening to gospel music while driving through this area is rejuvenating


That's where I want to go
That is the place I want to spend my time


50 miles til I get home
Only 50 miles left to go before reaching home


But when you're this close miles go twice as long
The closer you get to home, the more time seems to slow down


When I cross over
Once I make it to the other side


I'm going to get down
I'll express my relief and appreciation


Gonna close my eyes and kiss the ground
I'll be overcome with joy and gratitude for being on solid ground




Contributed by Charlie O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

fabian rodriguez

I can't believe I've never heard of this guy. Wow amazing!!!

fabian rodriguez

I can't believe I've never heard of this guy. Wow amazing!!!

Yolanda K. Harper

My daddy's people are from Tennessee, my mother's from Texas. I now live in Nashville, and this songs speaks to me on both sides of the Mississippi. "Lord, I wanna be on the other side..."

Patrick Stout

Man, great song.

Jerri Faulk

Amazing singer. You need to be on the radio. Your better then the crap on the radio.

Jacqueline Miu

Great song. Thanks. Great voice too. Miu Jacqueline

Trey Rogers

top songwriters of today and one of my only idols ...Trey Rogers

Nicole R

Please come back to the Dosey Doe in TX soon

Nicole R

I miss your voice

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