“Three Wooden Crosses” is a country gospel song by Randy Travis that tells a story with a big twist. It’s a song about purpose, sacrifice, and how a single act can change someone’s future forever.
Below you’ll find a section-by-section breakdown of the lyrics in “Three Wooden Crosses.”
- Song: Three Wooden Crosses
- Artist: Randy Travis
- Songwriters: Kim Williams, Doug Johnson
- Released: 2002
- Album: Rise and Shine
- Genre: Country
“Three Wooden Crosses” Meaning: Line by Line
Verse 1: Four People on a Bus
A farmer and a teacher, a hooker and a preacher
Riding on a midnight bus bound for Mexico
These lines introduce four very different people. Their jobs say a lot about their lives and values.
The teacher and preacher are linked to guidance. The farmer is tied to hard work and family. The woman is labeled as a hooker, which may suggest she’s been judged or pushed aside by society.
All four are headed to the same place, showing that people from all walks of life can cross paths.
One was headed for vacation, one for higher education
And two of them were searching for lost souls
Each traveler has a reason for the trip.
The farmer is probably on vacation. The teacher might be chasing more schooling.
The preacher and the woman are both “searching for lost souls.” The preacher is trying to save them. The woman makes a living off them.
That driver never ever saw the stop sign
And eighteen wheelers can’t stop on a dime
Tragedy strikes here. A missed stop sign and a big truck cause a crash.
This sudden accident sets the stage for everything that comes next.
Chorus 1: What We Leave Behind
There are three wooden crosses on the right side of the highway
Why there’s not four of them, Heaven only knows
Three people died, one didn’t.
The lyrics ask why only three crosses were put up, hinting at a deeper meaning that isn’t clear yet.
The phrase “Heaven only knows” points to something beyond our understanding.
I guess it’s not what you take when you leave this world behind you
It’s what you leave behind you when you go
This line is the heart of the song.
It says what matters isn’t money or status, but the impact you make. Kindness, teachings, and faith live on after we’re gone.
Verse 2: What Each Left Behind
That farmer left a harvest, a home, and eighty acres
The faith and love for growing things in his young son’s heart
Even in death, the farmer leaves something lasting. His son carries his values and the love of the land.
It’s a reminder that simple, honest work and raising children with care matter a lot.
And that teacher left her wisdom in the minds of lots of children
And did her best to give ’em all a better start
The teacher’s legacy is the knowledge and care she gave to her students.
Her effort to help others succeed carries on through the lives she touched.
And that preacher whispered, “Can’t you see the Promised Land?”
As he laid his blood-stained Bible in that hooker’s hand
This is the turning point.
The preacher, while dying, offers hope and faith to the woman.
The “Promised Land” could mean Heaven, but it also means new life or a second chance.
Giving her the Bible shows he believes she’s worth saving.
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Bridge: The Twist in the Story
That’s the story that our preacher told last Sunday
As he held that blood-stained Bible up for all of us to see
Here, we find out this whole tale is being told by a preacher during a church service.
He holds the same Bible mentioned in the second verse.
He said, “Bless the farmer, and the teacher, and the preacher
Who gave this Bible to my mama, who read it to me”
The twist is revealed: the woman who survived was the mother of the man now preaching.
She took the Bible, changed her life, and raised a son who became a preacher.
The legacy of the dying preacher lived on through her.
Chorus 2: Now We Know Why
There are three wooden crosses on the right side of the highway
Why there’s not four of them, now I guess we know
Now the question from earlier makes sense.
Only three died. The woman survived, and because of that, something powerful was passed on.
The preacher’s act saved her, and in turn, she passed that faith to her son.
It’s not what you take when you leave this world behind you
It’s what you leave behind you when you go
The chorus repeats, but now it hits a bit harder.
The preacher’s gift, a Bible with a final message and a bit of faith, changed generations.
“Three Wooden Crosses” Song Meaning: A Chain of Redemption
“Three Wooden Crosses” is about how people affect each other’s lives, sometimes in ways they’ll never see. Each character has something they leave behind. The farmer leaves land and a son with values. The teacher leaves knowledge and hope. The preacher offers a final act of faith that saves someone else. And the woman, once looked down on, becomes a mother who raises a son to lead others in faith.
The twist adds real weight to the story. A woman judged for her past becomes the reason a new preacher is standing in front of a church.
The song challenges the idea that some lives matter more than others. It shows that anyone, no matter their background, can be part of something meaningful. What someone leaves behind might not be money or fame, but love, guidance, and hope.
Songs Like “Three Wooden Crosses”
Here are a few songs that also tell stories about faith, loss, and how one life can change another:
1. “The Little Girl” by John Michael Montgomery
“The Little Girl” tells the story of a child caught in a violent home who finds hope through religion and a church community. Like “Three Wooden Crosses,” it deals with dark themes but shows how faith can bring new beginnings.
2. “Don’t Take the Girl” by Tim McGraw
“Don’t Take the Girl” is about a man’s love growing from childhood to adulthood, with tragedy shaping his choices. It shares a similar use of storytelling and deep emotional turns.
3. “Go Rest High on That Mountain” by Vince Gill
“Go Rest High on That Mountain” is a tribute to someone who has passed, focusing on grief and peace. Like “Three Wooden Crosses,” it blends country and gospel to honor life and faith.
Related: Funeral Songs for Mom
4. “Live Like You Were Dying” by Tim McGraw
“Live Like You Were Dying” is about living with purpose after hearing bad news. It echoes the message in “Three Wooden Crosses” about what really matters in life.
Related: “Live Like You Were Dying” Song Meaning
5. “Jesus, Take the Wheel” by Carrie Underwood
“Jesus, Take the Wheel” is about a woman reaching out to God in a moment of crisis. It shares the theme of spiritual awakening and second chances found in “Three Wooden Crosses.”
Conclusion: What Really Matters in the End
“Three Wooden Crosses” is a powerful reminder that what we do in life can carry on long after we’re gone. The preacher’s final act of kindness changed everything.
This song shows how love, faith, and redemption can show up in unexpected places. Sometimes the person you save ends up saving others.
You can listen to “Three Wooden Crosses” on Spotify and Amazon.
Be sure to check out more Country Song Interpretations.
