Born in Cleveland, Ohio,U.S., Tracy Chapman began playing guitar and writing songs as a child. She received a scholarship through A Better Chance that allowed her to attend Wooster School in Connecticut, and was eventually accepted to Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts.
Tracy Chapman helped restore songwriters to the spotlight in the '80s. The multi-platinum success of Chapman's eponymous 1988 debut was unexpected, and it had lasting impact. Although Chapman was working from the same confessional songwriter foundation that had been popularized in the '70s, her songs were fresh and powerful, driven by simple melodies and affecting lyrics. At the time of her first album, there were only a handful of artists performing such a style successfully, and her success ushered in a new era of songwriters that lasted well into the '90s. Along with 10,000 Maniacs and R.E.M., Chapman's liberal politics proved enormously influential on American college campuses in the late '80s.
Official Website: http://www.tracychapman.com
Fansite: http://www.tracychapmanonline.com
Crossroads
Tracy Chapman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But you never made any sacrifice
Demons they are on my trail
I'm standing at the crossroads of the hell
I look to the left I look to the right
There're hands that grab me on every side
Mmh, mmh
All you folks think I got my price
At which I'll sell all that is mine
You think money rules when all else fails
Go sell your soul and keep your shell
I'm trying to protect what I keep inside
All the reasons why I live my life
Mmh, mmh
Mmh, mmh
Some say the devil be a mystical thing
I say the devil he a walking man
He a fool he a liar conjurer and a thief
He try to tell you what you want
Try to tell you what you need
Mmh, mmh
Mmh, mmh
Standing at the point
The road it cross you down
What is at your back
Which way do you turn
Who will come to find you first
Your devils or your gods
Mmh
All you folks think you run my life
Say I should be willing to compromise
I say all you demons go back to hell
I'll save my soul, save myself
Mmh, mmh
Mmh, mmh
Save my soul, save myself
Save my soul, save myself
Save my soul, save myself
Save my soul, save myself
Tracy Chapman's song 'Crossroads' is essentially about the constant battle between personal freedom and the societal expectations placed upon an individual. The opening lines of the song suggest that the singer is feeling suffocated and trapped by the expectations of others. They feel like their every move is being watched, criticized, and controlled by the people around them. The singer expresses their frustration with the people around them, who seem to believe that they own the singer's life, without making any real sacrifices to earn that kind of control. The demons on their trail represent this sense of being hunted or pursued by the expectations of others.
The chorus highlights the singer's struggle to remain true to themselves while balancing the demands of the society around them. They feel pulled in multiple directions, with hands grabbing at them from every side. The singer recognizes the importance of standing firm in their beliefs and protecting what is important to them. They reject the idea that money or power should be the driving force in one's life and choose to hold onto their personal values, even if it means facing ridicule or opposition from others.
In the last verse, the singer discusses their views on evil and how it is manifested in everyday life. They suggest that the devil is not some mystical force, but rather a walking man who seeks to deceive and manipulate others. The singer refuses to give into the devil's lies, claiming that they will save their soul and themselves. The ultimate message of the song is about personal autonomy and the importance of staying true to oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
All you folks think you own my life
People believe they have control over me
But you never made any sacrifice
However, they have not made any sacrifices for me
Demons they are on my trail
I am being pursued by negative forces
I'm standing at the crossroads of the hell
I am at a point in my life where I must make an important decision
I look to the left I look to the right
I am searching for answers and guidance
There're hands that grab me on every side
I am feeling overwhelmed and pulled in many different directions
All you folks think I got my price
People believe that everything in my life has a price
At which I'll sell all that is mine
And that I would be willing to sell out for the right amount
You think money rules when all else fails
They believe that money is the solution to all problems
Go sell your soul and keep your shell
They are willing to compromise their integrity to gain wealth
I'm trying to protect what I keep inside
I am trying to preserve my values and beliefs
All the reasons why I live my life
And the reasons behind the choices I make
Some say the devil be a mystical thing
Some people believe that evil is an intangible concept
I say the devil he a walking man
But I believe that evil is embodied in human beings
He a fool he a liar conjurer and a thief
Evil is deceptive and manipulative
He try to tell you what you want
The devil tries to manipulate you by giving you what you want
Try to tell you what you need
And what you need, which can be detrimental to you
Standing at the point
I am at a critical juncture in my life
The road it cross you down
And I must choose which path to take
What is at your back
I am also being weighed down by my past
Which way do you turn
I am uncertain of the right path to take
Who will come to find you first
And whether good or evil will find me first
Your devils or your gods
Whether I will be influenced by my darker or higher nature
All you folks think you run my life
People believe they have control over me
Say I should be willing to compromise
And that I should be willing to compromise to appease them
I say all you demons go back to hell
But I refuse to compromise and will protect my soul
I'll save my soul, save myself
I will preserve my integrity and make my own decisions
Save my soul, save myself
Saving my soul is crucial to preserving my identity
Save my soul, save myself
And being true to myself in this difficult journey
Save my soul, save myself
Is the only way I can truly save myself
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: TRACY L CHAPMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@zlatagergelova7534
Lyrics:
All you folks think you own my life
But you never made any sacrifice
Demons they are on my trail
I'm standing at the crossroads of the hell
I look to the left I look to the right
There're hands that grab me on every side
Mmh, mmh
Mmh, mmh
All you folks think I got my price
At which I'll sell all that is mine
You think money rules when all else fails
Go sell your soul and keep your shell
I'm trying to protect what I keep inside
All the reasons why I live my life
Mmh, mmh
Mmh, mmh
Some say the devil be a mystical thing
I say the devil he a walking man
He a fool he a liar conjurer and a thief
He try to tell you what you want
Try to tell you what you need
Mmh, mmh
Mmh, mmh
Standing at the point
The road it cross you down
What is at your back
Which way do you turn
Who will come to find you first
Your devils or your gods
Mmh
All you folks think you run my life
Say I should be willing to compromise
I say all you demons go back to hell
I'll save my soul, save myself
Mmh, mmh
Mmh, mmh
Save my soul, save myself
Save my soul, save myself
Save my soul, save myself
Save my soul, save myself
Zdroj: LyricFind
@nombusolinky3453
Man it’s 2023 but this song, Tracy’s voice still gives me chills. Brings back memories of my childhood❤
@jeanyvespotier
Idem mec!
@kickemindafacestyleson6986
this song has stuck with me throughout my years...losses, pains , tribulations and hardships...i could always somehow sing this song and the words would ring true, no matter what i was going through....not many songs, ( or anything for that matter ) can do that...have that power to transcend....i am happy to have known this artist and her song from the beginning...and hope to remember them..at the end......
@laureenereevesndagire5970
This song kept playing in my head as I made my way up a mountain this week. It’s now 7.47pm, I am sitting at my sister’s resting place, playing this for her.
@virtuallyveganlifestyle3990
💜🙏🏽💜
@aliceinkaliceratterree5583
Your comment brought a lump to my thought and tears to my eyes.❤
@user-nx6lx4ry7g
@@aliceinkaliceratterree5583y'all wasn't born yet keep this music going k.y❤
@Browneyezish
🫂🌞🙏🏽
@virtuallyveganlifestyle3990
This song tells me when it came to the Crossroads she didn't cross.. She didn't sell her Soul that's why she dropped off the radar. Respect to those artists that just 'stop' making music 🙏🏽💜🖖🏾
@shamshirhussain8198
Shes still respected so still winniny