The Road to Hell (live) - Chris Rea

Stood still on a highway

I saw a woman

By the side of the road

With a face that I knew like my own

Reflected in my window

Well she walked up to my quarterlight

And she bent down real slow

A fearful pressure paralysed me

In my shadow

She said "Son, what are you doing here?

My fear for you has turned me in my grave"

I said "Mama, I come to the valley of the rich

Myself to sell"

She said "Son, this is the road to Hell"

On your journey 'cross the wilderness

From the desert to the well

You have strayed upon the motorway to Hell

Well I'm standing by a river

But the water doesn't flow

It boils with every poison you can think of

And I'm underneath the streetlights

But the light of joy I know

Scared beyond belief way down in the shadows

And the perverted fear of violence

Chokes a smile on every face

And common sense is ringing out the bells

This ain't no technological breakdown

Oh no, this is the road to Hell

And all the roads jam up with credit

And there's nothing you can do

It's all just bits of paper

Flying away from you

Look out world take a good look

What comes down here

You must learn this lesson fast

And learn it well

This ain't no upwardly mobile freeway

Oh no, this is the road to Hell