This track, like "Turn Out the Light", was written on an open-tuned acoustic guitar and was originally entitled "What Lies Ahead". By the time I had written the first few lines, however, I noticed it had a similar theme to Robert Frost's poem "The Road Not Taken" so I decided to write the song as a paraphrase of that poem. However, by adding a mysterious advisor at the crossroads, who subsequently disappears, I have altered the meaning of the original which was tinged with irony (does it really matter which path you choose?) so that one interpretation of my words could be "No matter what other people advise you to do with your life, it is solely down to you to decide, because, by the time the consequences of your decision arrive, your advisors will be long gone." I have also changed the "two roads that diverged" in Frost's poem to a crossroads which sets up all sorts of implied meanings. For instance, the devil traditionally waits at crossroads, so is the advisor in my song benevolent or malign?
After I had written a few verses I was startled, and pleased, to notice that I had unconsciously been writing in iambic pentameter - although the first line of the first verse is missing its initial syllable. Each verse is actually an AABBA limerick form, with two short rhyming middle lines of four feet each and lines one, two and five consisting of five iambs.
I planned this to be the last track of the album and I wanted to keep its arrangement very simple, as a contrast to the complexity of some of the other songs on the album. I originally planned to use just a single voice and one guitar. However, the song is long and tells a story so some variety is necessary to keep the listener's interest. So I have used four nylon string guitars, an upright bass, minimal percussion (no drumkit) and a string orchestra playing in a staccato style.
The ten tracks on this, my second solo album, have taken a little over a year to write and record. Some have been easier to finish than others and some I like more than others. Which ones? Well I make no secret of liking "If Ever" and "Meet Up for Christmas" but beyond that, I'm not saying!
Instrumentation: All instruments played or programmed by Brian Parks:
Line 6 Variax 6-string guitar (emulating 6-string acoustic guitar), Line 6 Variax bass guitar (emulating a 1949 Kay upright bass), programmed nylon string guitars, programmed string orchestra, programmed bongos, programmed egg shaker, lead vocal, harmony and backing vocals and programmed female backing vocals.
Lyrics
“Would you like to know what lies ahead?”
The traveller at the crossroads softly said
“‘Cos this road is the easy one.
The path that most will tread.
Woah. Would you like to know what lies ahead?”
“But should you choose the other way instead
There’ll be no guarantee.” He shook his head
“’Cos that road is the harder one
The path that few will tread
Woah. should you choose the other way instead?”
I stood there thinking, never blinking
Lost within my thought
For my decision and intuition
Would cost me dear if all should come to nought
The traveller’s face showed nothing I could use
To help decide which pathway I should choose
They both looked just the same to me
And neither I’d refuse
Woah, still his face showed nothing I could use.
I chose the path I felt was no disgrace
And glanced behind to see the traveller’s face
But there was no-one there but me
He’d gone and left no trace
Woah, this the path I thought was no disgrace
I stood there thinking, never blinking
Lost within my thought
For my decision and intuition
Would cost me dear if all should come to nought
I told myself I’d come back here one day
And take the other road I’d cast away
But something deep inside of me
Will lead my steps astray.
Woah, never will I come back this same way.
Never will I come back this same way.
Never will I come back this same way.