Album: The Crossing (1983)

Charted: 17 17

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• I've never seen you look like this without a reason
  Another promise fallen through
  Another season passes by you
  I never took the smile away from anybody's face
  And that's a desperate way to look
  For someone who is still a child
  
  In a big country dreams stay with you
  Like a lover's voice fires the mountainside
  Stay alive, here we go
  
  I thought that pain and truth were things that really mattered
  But you can't stay here with every single hope you had shattered
  I'm not expecting to grow flowers in a desert
  But I can live and breathe
  And see the sun in wintertime
  
  In a big country dreams stay with you
  Like a lover's voice fires the mountainside
  Stay alive
  
  In a big country dreams stay with you
  Like a lover's voice fires the mountainside
  Stay alive
  
  So take that look out of here it doesn't fit you
  Because it's happened doesn't mean you've been discarded
  Pull up your head off the floor, come up screaming
  Cry out for everything you ever might have wanted
  I thought that pain and truth were things that really mattered
  But you can't stay here with every single hope you had shattered, see ya
  I'm not expecting to grow flowers in a desert
  But I can live and breathe
  And see the sun in wintertime
  
  In a big country dreams stay with you
  Like a lover's voice fires the mountainside
  Stay alive
  Ha, ha
  
  In a big country dreams stay with you
  Like a lover's voice fires the mountainside
  Stay alive
  
  In a big country dreams stay with you
  Like a lover's voice fires the mountainside
  Stay alive Writer/s: Bruce Watson, Mark Brzezicki, Stuart Adamson, Tony Butler
  Publisher: BMG Rights Management
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 24

• Daventura from Nor * CalI thought that pain and truth were things that really mattered.
  Ask me tell you another Big Country song...sorry, can't help you.
• Matt from Vankookoo, Bc, CanadaIt is too bad that this band came along at such a stupid time in pop music history. I saw Big Country twice both at small venues, (86th Street, Commodore Ballroom?) and that was a blessing. However, they made their guitars sound like bagpipes sometimes so many critics wrote them off as a gimmick band. They were far from a gimmicky act. Timeless song writing and simple melodies that you could have sworn you'd heard a million times are what made them one of the greatest 'never was' bands of all time. Have they been mentioned regarding HOF consideration?
• Tony from San DiegoI have this CD , an unknown masterpiece.
• George from Vancouver, CanadaKind of sad how Adamson was hanging, dead, in that hotel room for a MONTH!!! I've heard of bad hotels, but...
• Bruce from San Jose, CaI always liked the "guitar-as-Highland-bagpipes" sound of this song! It always got my heart pumping (maybe it's my Scottish-heritage blood waking up?)
• Jamie from Fife, United KingdomSorry Colin you are wrong. I live a couple of miles from Dunfermline, and the name is pronounced Dun-ferm-lin. Literally said how it is written, with exception to 'lin' instead of 'line'.
• Paul from Wigan, United KingdomStuart Adamson was actually born in Ancoats, Manchester, UK, of Scottish parents. He and his family moved to Scotland when he was 5 years old.
  During the many Big Country concerts in Manchester Stuart always proclaimed an affinity with Manchester and its people.
• Shane from Wrexham, United KingdomAt the Hexagon theatre in Reading, Stuart comments "This song is about having a sense of humour and a sense of hope, in times of adversity" he then laughs before introducing the song as "young guns go for it". I also read an interview with Stuart where he said that this song was written completely differently from the way he normally works. He wanted to capture the feeling of maintaining hope through difficult times. I think he did a fantastic job of achieving that... COME UP SCREAMING !
• Jim from Long Beach, CaBruce Watson was born in Ontario,Canada from Scottish parents, they moved back to Scotland when Bruce was still a child. If you listen to him talk he is a true Scotsman. Peace, SHOUT!!!!
• Pat from St. Paul, MnI've always thought that the guitar duet during the bridge of the song sounded like bagpipes, and that it was done purposely. Great song.
• Jade from Washington D.c., DcWhen things are too difficult for me, I listen to this beautiful song! It always makes me feel much better about my life! The happy lyrics always keep me going! I love this song and I always will! Rest In Peace Stuart Adamson!
• Jan from Amsterdam, NetherlandsKate Bush did't do the backing vocals on Eiledon, but on the titletrack the Seer.
• Tony from Detroit, MiWhere were Bruce Watsons parents from? Alll my ancestors are from sicily. Were all sicilian. But I was born here in Detroit. That doesnt make me american though. I wonder if bruce watson is actually canadian.
• Musicguru from Lost Angles, CaAwesome song with inspirational lyrics. Does anyone really know the meaning behinds the lyrics? I want to say it?s about lovers breaking up or helping a depressed person "see the light".
• Daryl from Stoke, EnglandAmazing song, Butler never ceases to amaze me, people check out 'ships' its nice
• Kent from Toronto, CanadaAlthough known as a Scottish band, guitarist Bruce Watson is actually Canadian (born Timmins, Ontario, March 11, 1961). A similar case to The Mamas And The Papas, who also had one Canadian member, the recently deceased Denny Doherty (Nov. 29, 1940 - Jan. 19, 2007).
• Christophe from Leest, BelgiumMark, Tony and Bruce guested on Roger Daltrey's underrated 1985 album "Under A Raging
  Moon". Worth checking out.
  Big Country should never be forgotten.
• Colin from Bradford, EnglandThe spelling is incorrect here - it should be Dunfermline and is pronounced as follows: Dun-furm-lin. Hope this helps.
• Annabelle from Eugene, OrI'm half Irish and Half Scottish, and I've always wondered, how do you pronounce Dunfermilne?
• John from Dublin, IrelandJust a small clarification. Kate Bush dueted on the title song on The Seer album - June Miles Kingston did backing vocals on Eiledon.
• Ralph from Newton, MaThanks Edward Pearce and Hugh from KC.
  Great info on one of my favorite bands.
  Anyone know if the song has any particular meaning other than the literal (which doesn't actually say much.
• Izzie from Lala, Hithis song is great. i love the sound.
• Nero from Pietermaritzburg, South AfricaKate Bush did backing vocals on their album The Seer... the song was Eiledon.
• Hugh from Kansas City, MoBig Country comprised the studio musicians during the recording of Pete Townsend's breakthrough solo album, Empty Glass.

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