I was listening to a radio special about Sun Records, and at the end they asked Sam Phillips if, after all this time and all the great music and artists he’s worked with, if there was any wisdom he had gained that he might share. And he said, “One thing someone told me long ago, was that the ground is always level at the cross.” I’ve been looking for a transcript of that interview, or to listen again to that radio special, to hear again exactly what he said, but so far I haven’t been able to find it.
Walking down this road of life
Stumbling on the struggle and strife
Try to keep the heart and soul from getting lost
Wilderness all around
Disillusions lost and found
But the ground is always level at the cross
The ground is always level at the cross
The ground is always level at the cross
Troubles laid, and worries tossed
The ground is always level at the cross
Since I was young they tried to teach it to me
As I grow on they try to preach it to me
You make your own way, you’ll go astray at your own cost
Yeah you can know it all till you’re proud stiff
But before you know it you’ll be runnin’ off the cliff
And the ground is sure to be level at the cross
The ground is always level at the cross
The ground is always level at the cross
Troubles laid, and worries tossed
The ground is always level at the cross
Well I was high, my danger mighty
I thought all the world was right behind me
As I’s a’ capturin’ an’ killin’ ev’ry livin’ thin’ that I don’ crossed
Until suddenly I was seized with doubt
I realized my demise was all unfigured out
And that the ground is always level at the cross
When the brimstone is your only friend
She’s stickin’ with you until the bitter dying ends
And she’ll stab you in the back, straight up in your face
Bizarre, how you’ll wished you would’ve done
Carried that cross they so simply sung
You fell down but the ground was always level in its place
The ground is always level at the cross
The ground is always level at the cross
Troubles laid, and worries tossed
The ground is always level at the cross
Satan is the easy kind
He’s always ready to be wined and dined
open up your heart he’ll put you
At the mouth of his river of sauce
He’ll turn your mom and poppa’s five and dime
Into a swingin’ six six six sixty-nine
But the ground is only level at the cross
The ground is always level at the cross
The ground is always level at the cross
Troubles laid, and worries tossed
The ground is always level at the cross
You wouldn’t be off if you said I believed
I’d take the whole world with me when I leave
She turns around me, bring your frankincense and muir
Baby I’m your boss
But now I’m buried six feet under
My bones left cold to lie and wonder
At the ground that’s always level at my cross
The ground is always level at the cross
The ground is always level at the cross
Troubles laid, and worries tossed
The ground is always level at the cross
The ground is always level at the cross
The ground is always level at the cross