Cross to Bier (Cradle of Bones)

Album: Blood for Blood (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Hellyeah lead singer Chad Gray wrote the lyrics to this metal monster about the feeling of being judged. In our interview with Gray, he explained: "As an artist in this day and age where everybody's got something to say, because of the anonymity, they aren't the nicest things that people can say. And everybody wants a little something from you and everybody's got their hand in your wallet. It's like, Do I get anything? You want to hang me up and crucify me and judge me. In the end, it's like, 'F--k it. Tear me off my cross to bier. Put me in my coffin so cold.'"
  • A "bier" is a platform used for transporting a coffin to a gravesite or other ceremony. The song has a double meaning in this sense, as the "bier" translation relates to the feeling that you have been stripped of life and are going to the grave. "Cross to Bear" is an expression meaning a heavy burden, which in this case is the constant criticism and judgment facilitated by social media and a layer of anonymity.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Tom Bailey of Thompson Twins

Tom Bailey of Thompson TwinsSongwriter Interviews

Tom stopped performing Thompson Twins songs in 1987, in part because of their personal nature: "Hold Me Now" came after an argument with his bandmate/girlfriend Alannah Currie.

We Will Rock You (To Sleep): Pop Stars Who Recorded Kids' Albums

We Will Rock You (To Sleep): Pop Stars Who Recorded Kids' AlbumsSong Writing

With the rise of Kindie rock, more musicians are embracing their inner child with tunes for tots - here, we look at pop stars who recorded kids' albums.

La La Brooks of The Crystals

La La Brooks of The CrystalsSong Writing

The lead singer on "Da Doo Ron Ron" and "Then He Kissed Me," La La explains how and why Phil Spector replaced The Crystals with Darlene Love on "He's A Rebel."

Wang Chung Pick The Top Songs Of The '80s

Wang Chung Pick The Top Songs Of The '80sSongwriter Interviews

'80s music ambassadors Wang Chung pick their top tracks of the decade, explaining what makes each one so special.

Hardy

HardySongwriter Interviews

The country hitmaker talks about his debut album, A Rock, and how a nursery rhyme inspired his hit single "One Beer."

80s Music Quiz 1

80s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

MTV, a popular TV theme song and Madonna all show up in this '80s music quiz.