It's a cruel, cruel world to face on your own
A heavy cross to carry along
The lights are on but everyone's gone
And it's cruel

It's a funny way to make ends meet
When the lights are out on every street
It feels alright but never complete
Without joy

I checked you
If it's already been done, undo it
It takes two
It's up to me and you to prove it

On the rainy nights, even the coldest days
You're moments ago but seconds away
The principal of nature, it's true but
It's a cruel world

We can play it safe or play it cool
Follow the leader or make up all the rules
Whatever you want, the choice is yours
So choose

I checked you
If it's already been done, undo it
It takes two
It's up to me and you to prove it

I trust you
It's already been done, undo it
It takes two
It's up to me and you to prove it

I checked you
If it's already been done, undo it
It takes two
It's up to me and you to prove it

I trust you



Lyrics submitted by MCRfanatic

Track duration: 04:03

"Heavy Cross" as written by Nathan Howdeshell Hannah Blilie

Lyrics © CHRYSALIS MUSIC GROUP

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Heavy Cross song meanings
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21 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:I'm glad that I'm not the only one that thinks this song is about prostitution.
    Flag Viollanteon December 21, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Hadn't listened to The Gossip (until today) in over a year. I had forgotten how much I like Beth's music...and her attitude. That woman has guts that the rest of us could only imagine. The song is self-explanatory. I need to listen to more of The Gossip's music!
    Flag freetobemeon March 24, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:God I love this song. I think I love everything about Beth Ditto. The punk attitude, the confidence, the rebel girl X with Dolly Parton singing (like Dolly - Beth has great range, great projection and knows how to evoke the emotional content of a song).

    Flag clareakon December 20, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Definitely NOT a song about my life. I searched for this track because I keep hearing this played on the TV for an expensive perfume. I LOVE it. The beat is great. The energy is wonderful. Just a GREAT song. Only wish it wasn't being used to sell a product. (Only wish Julia Stone would stop using her voice to sell products, but that's just me:)
    Flag FatBottomedGurlon December 15, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I like Kantmv's interpretation the best, and think there is some purposeful intertwining of meanings to create double entendres/multiple meanings so that there can be a variety of interpretations. One correction I think is key to the song's meaning, and in all the comments noone's mentioned it yet (and I suppose that, conversely, you could spell the word differently depending on how you interpret the song), is the line "principal of nature" - it should be "principle of nature". The spelling would affect the meaning in this case, especially when taken in context--instead of the implied 'sex' being a 'principal' guiding force of nature, the underlying *principle* of nature is that you're moments ago but seconds away--from death, in my mind. That could be inclusive of the prostitution interpretation and just about any interpretation; in this case, I take it as someone can literally (or figuratively, i.e., in your memory) be with you just moments ago, but at any second could be taken away, whether that be by an 'act of God' or act of nature, by an accident, a murder, etc. etc.. Google "principle vs. principal' and the subtlety of the meaning can be inferred by which spelling/grammar rule you apply--in this case, I do believe that because of the context, it is the overriding 'principle" of nature that you can be here one moment and gone the next, sometimes literally, and sometimes figuratively in someone's memory, when it feels in someone's mind like you were just here even if you've been gone quite a while.
    Flag stallionhorseon October 23, 2010   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:Oh never mind, I actually find the real meaning of the song.

    Vocalist Beth Ditto explained this song to the NME June 27, 2009: "I know so many amazing people who devote their lives to undoing things, and I feel that's the essence of punk now because punk's already been done, it's old. It's about recreation and my friends, who I feel like are the ultimate creative re-creators."
    Flag stephanieleroyon March 16, 2010   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:Ah! That's so weird you said prostitution because I thought the same thing myself! I actually came on here to see if anyone had a similar idea.

    However, I think it is about the legalization of prostitution.

    "It's a funny way, to make ends meet
    when the lights are out on every street"
    This is where I think it is referring to prostitution. It is the line that began my thoughts of the song's meaning.

    "It takes two,
    It's up to me and you, to prove it,"
    Here i think she means it takes the prostitute (the people) and the government to change the laws.

    "The principal of nature, it's true but
    it's a cruel world"
    Humans, especially men, are going to want sex. It's a natural urge, but if prostitution is illegal it makes things dangerous for the prostitute fulfilling that urge.

    I don't know. I still don't know what some of the other lines would mean. I'm probably wrong.
    Flag stephanieleroyon March 16, 2010   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:I was a little bit confused when I read the lyric here. Because this is the lyric I know and it is from the booklet form the CD.

    ooohh oh ooooh, oh oh oh ohhh
    ooohh oh ooooh, oh oh oh ohhh

    It's a cruel cruel world, to face on your own,
    A heavy cross, to carry alone,
    The lights are on, but everyone's gone,
    And it's cruel

    It's a funny way, to make ends meet,
    when the lights are out on every street,
    It feels alright, but never complete,
    without you,

    I trust you, if it's already been done, undo it,
    It takes two, it's up to me and you, to prove it,
    All the rainy nights, even the coldest days,
    you're moments ago, but seconds away,
    The principal of nature, it's true but, it's a cruel world,

    ooooh oooh oohh, ooh ooh oooh ooh, ooo wooah

    We can play it safe, or play it cool,
    follow the leader, or make up all the rules,
    whatever you want, the choice is yours,
    So choose,

    I trust you, if it's already been done, undo it,
    It takes two, it's up to me and you, to prove it,

    ei ei ei ei ei, oh oh oh oh oh, ye oh oh,
    ei ei ei ei ei, oh oh oh oh oh, ye eh, ye eh, ye eh,

    I trust you, it's already been done, undo it,
    It takes two, it's up to me and you, to prove it,

    ei ei ei, woah wo, yeah eh
    ei ei ei ei ei, oh oh oh oh oh, ye eh, ye eh, ye eh,

    I trust you, if it's already been done, undo it,
    It takes two, it's up to me and you, to prove it,
    ei ei ei ei ei, oh oh oh oh oh, ye oh oh,
    ei ei ei, oh oh oh oh oh, ye eh, ye eh, ye eh,

    I trust you.
    Flag heldin_noiron January 20, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:What about the line "I checked you, if it's already been done, undo it!"?
    Flag Den00on January 04, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i have to agree, i think the song is about prostitution.
    also, side note: o8strider8o - beth ditto is a lesbian.. so i have to dismiss your 'boyfriend' theory.
    Flag thrashmaticianon December 06, 2009   Link

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