The Other Side
Will Hoge Lyrics


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In the town where I was born
Well, the streets were cold and black
If you'd get to the other side of town
You'd hope you never would come back

Just across that old railroad track
With the houses so big and lights so bright
My father and I'd sit with our eyes closed
And dream to be on the other side

'Cause on the other side
Nobody seems to long for anything
Hear their sweet voice laughing
Just as gentle as the angels sing

And on the other side
Nothing's borrowed and surely nothing's owed
I hope to one day find out
What it's like on the other side

My father worked from dawn
'Til the sun went down
And his hands were hard as steel

But still after 20 years of working
He could barely make enough to pay the bills
Then one night he laid us all in bed
Tucked me in and kissed my mom goodnight

Shut out the light and I thought I heard him crying
And he whispered, "I'll make it all alright."
So at a liquor store out by the interstate
He took the money and he gunned 3 rich men down

But the blue lights and badges
All were flashing before he turned the car around
And the judge said, "For this you will die son."
And my mother asked my father "Why?"

Hung his head and softly he did tell her
"So one day we might see the other side."

'Cause on the other side
Nobody seems to long for anything
Hear their sweet voice laughing
Just as gentle as the angels sing

And on the other side
Nothing's borrowed and surely nothing's owed
I hope to one day find out
What it's like on the other side

Sometimes as I lay here in bed
And the rain falls in the deep dark night




My father comes here as I'm dreaming
And I know he's on the other side

Overall Meaning

The song The Other Side by Will Hoge is a poignant reflection on the struggles of life and the search for something better. The opening lines describe a town where the streets are cold and black, creating a sense of darkness and despair. The town is divided by a railroad track, with the other side being a place of hope and possibility. The singer and his father dream of escaping to the other side, where nobody seems to long for anything and everything is perfect. This creates a stark contrast between the two sides of town and highlights the struggles faced by those living on the wrong side of the tracks.


The second half of the song tells a tragic story of the singer's father, who works tirelessly to provide for his family but is unable to make ends meet. In a desperate attempt to find a better life, he robs a liquor store and kills three rich men. The father is caught, and the singer's mother asks him why he did it. His answer is heartbreaking – he wanted to take his family to the other side. The song ends with the singer dreaming of his father, who he knows is now on the other side.


Line by Line Meaning

In the town where I was born
This is where the singer was born and raised


Well, the streets were cold and black
The streets were not welcoming


If you'd get to the other side of town
A part of town that seems better


You'd hope you never would come back
An unpleasant place


Just across that old railroad track
An area separated by a railroad track


With the houses so big and lights so bright
A much nicer area


My father and I'd sit with our eyes closed
The singer would imagine himself in that other part of town


And dream to be on the other side
Wanting to escape the current situation


'Cause on the other side
What it's like to be on the other side


Nobody seems to long for anything
People are content


Hear their sweet voice laughing
The atmosphere is happy


Just as gentle as the angels sing
It's like heaven


And on the other side
What it's like to be on the other side


Nothing's borrowed and surely nothing's owed
No debts or obligations


I hope to one day find out
Desire to experience the other side


My father worked from dawn
The artist's father worked hard


'Til the sun went down
Long hours of labor


And his hands were hard as steel
Physical work made his hands rough


But still after 20 years of working
Working for 20 years didn't bring financial security


He could barely make enough to pay the bills
Money was tight


Then one night he laid us all in bed
A night when things changed


Tucked me in and kissed my mom goodnight
A normal family routine


Shut out the light and I thought I heard him crying
The father was emotional and didn't want his family to see him like that


And he whispered, 'I'll make it all alright.'
A reassurance of taking care of the family


So at a liquor store out by the interstate
The father made a desperate decision


He took the money and he gunned 3 rich men down
The father resorted to an act of violence


But the blue lights and badges
The police arrived


All were flashing before he turned the car around
The father almost got away with it


And the judge said, 'For this you will die son.'
The father was sentenced to death


And my mother asked my father 'Why?'
The mother didn't understand why her husband did it


Hung his head and softly he did tell her
The father had to explain his motives


'So one day we might see the other side.'
The father's hope of providing a better life for his family


'Cause on the other side
The other side once again


Nobody seems to long for anything
The same sentiment as before


Hear their sweet voice laughing
Happy and content


Just as gentle as the angels sing
Peaceful and heavenly


And on the other side
The other side once again


Nothing's borrowed and surely nothing's owed
No debts or obligations


I hope to one day find out
The singer's still desires to discover what it's like


Sometimes as I lay here in bed
Memories of the father


And the rain falls in the deep dark night
Setting the mood


My father comes here as I'm dreaming
The father appears in the singer's dreams


And I know he's on the other side
The father is at peace




Contributed by Lucas L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Andre Galiano

Man. Your music is the soundtrack of my life.
🀍

NFN josh

Your going to be on TOP of the music Industry famπŸ‘†πŸ”₯πŸŒβ€ΌοΈπŸ“ˆ

C. Sawyer

Glad to have a studio version of this. Definite highlight of the solo acoustic tour from last year

Carrie Seymour

Lovin this! β™‘

Jeff Pierce

Just arrived in Nashville. Heard this song on the radio and instantly fell in love with it.

Dennis Perry

This is pleasantly stuck in my head, thank you.

Giovanni Scarpelli

Track of the monthπŸ‘

Ric T. 49

In here looking like a young Bruce Willis. Lol
Love this music!

Scott Padilla

Awesome, thanks!!!!

Brian Dickerson

Brilliant

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