Heaven Or Hell
Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson Lyrics
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Sometimes I don't even know
Sometimes I take it as far as I can
Sometimes I don't even go
My front tracks are headed for a cold water well
My back tracks are covered in snow
Sometimes it's heaven,sometimes it's hell
Heaven ain't walking a street paved with gold
Hell ain't a mountain of fire
Heaven is laying in my sweet baby's arms
Hell is when my baby's not there
My front tracks are headed for a cold water well
My back tracks are covered in snow
Sometimes it's heaven,sometimes it's hell
Sometimes I don't even know
Sometimes it's heaven,sometimes it's hell
Sometimes I don't even know
"Heaven and Hell" is a song performed as a duet by American country music legends Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings. Released in 1982, it was included in their collaborative album "WWII," and the song revolves around the concept of life's uncertainties. The lyrics are poetic, reflecting that life can be full of ups and downs. The song talks about how sometimes we do not know the outcome of our actions, like when we take things too far, or even when we are hesitant to take a chance. The lyrics suggest that life is full of surprises, and we don't always have control over where it leads us.
The song contrasts two opposite concepts, Heaven and Hell, and holds them against each other. It asserts that Heaven isn't necessarily the picture that religion paints it to be, and that Hell isn't necessarily a place of eternal punishment. Instead, Heaven is depicted as being in the arms of a lover, and Hell is the lack of love. The image of the front tracks going towards a cold water well and the back tracks with snow represents someone unable to move forward or back, which is an allegory for times when we are unsure of which direction to take. The lyrics also suggest that sometimes even if we feel like we know what path to follow, life can still lead us to unintended destinations.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes it's heaven, sometimes it's hell
Life has ups and downs that can be both good and bad at certain points, and it's not always easy to predict.
Sometimes I don't even know
The unpredictability of life sometimes leaves me unsure of what's coming next.
Sometimes I take it as far as I can
I push myself to the limits and try to make the best of every situation.
Sometimes I don't even go
Other times, I hold back and don't take risks because I'm not sure if it's worth it.
My front tracks are headed for a cold water well
I'm headed towards a dangerous situation that could be detrimental to my well-being.
My back tracks are covered in snow
The past is behind me, but it can still affect me and leave a trail that I can't escape from.
Heaven ain't walking a street paved with gold
The common belief that heaven is about material possessions is not necessarily true.
Hell ain't a mountain of fire
The common concept of hell being a place of eternal flames and torment may not be accurate.
Heaven is laying in my sweet baby's arms
The true meaning of heaven for me is being close to someone I love deeply.
Hell is when my baby's not there
When I'm separated from the person I love, it feels like a terrible punishment.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Willie Nelson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind