Song
The Man on the Middle Cross
“The Man on the Middle Cross” is a post-grunge / hard rock gospel confession sung from the dying thief’s perspective. He has no good record to defend: he is “just a thief upon a cross at the dying of the day.” Yet he looks to the innocent Jesus, asks, “Lord, remember me,” and hears the astonishing promise, “Today, in paradise.” The chorus brings the message to its center: the thief has nothing in his hands and no good work to offer; his only answer at heaven’s gate is that the Man on the middle cross said he can come. The spoken bridge strips away every credential—doctrine, baptism, study, and religious language—not to mock truth or obedience, but to declare that none of them can replace Christ. The breakdown says it plainly: salvation is not by profession or the works we have done, but by what Jesus accomplished. The final chorus carries that simple ground of assurance forward: two thousand years later, it is still all we have—and it is enough.
"And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise."
A song for the road you're on.
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The Man on the Middle Cross Dirt Road Gospel Music DirtRoadGospelMusic.com [Intro] They asked him, "What are you doing here?" He said... "The man on the middle cross said I can come." [Verse 1] They hung me on a hillside for the life that I chose I'd stolen more than silver, Lord, and everybody knows I never sat in Scripture, never learned how to pray Just a thief upon a cross at the dying of the day [Chorus] But the man on the middle cross said I can come With nothing in my hands, not one good thing I've done And when they ask me at the gate what right I've got I'll say the man on the middle cross said I can come [Verse 2] The other one was cursing, and I cursed Him too Till I looked over at Him, and somehow I knew I said, "Lord, remember me when You come to Your throne" He said, "Today, in paradise — son, I'm bringing you home" [Chorus] But the man on the middle cross said I can come With nothing in my hands, not one good thing I've done And when they ask me at the gate what right I've got I'll say the man on the middle cross said I can come [Bridge] "What's your theology, friend? Do you understand grace?" I never heard those words in all my days "Justification by faith? The doctrine of the Scriptures?" I got no answer, sir — I just looked at His face "No study, no baptism... then on what basis are you here?" The man on the middle cross said I can come [Breakdown] That's the only answer for the depths of my despair That's the only answer for the proud man's prayer I'm not saved by profession or the works I have done But by what He accomplished — He said I can come [Final Chorus] 'Cause the man on the middle cross said I can come Not by faith plus my working — by what He has done Two thousand years later, that's still all I've got The man on the middle cross said I can come Oh, the man on the middle cross said I can come