The meaning of the lyrics of the song "The Cross" by the artist "Within Temptation"

In Within Temptation's song "The Cross", the lyrical protagonist addresses a person who has turned away from them, possibly a former lover or friend. The protagonist feels betrayed and abandoned, comparing their pain to carrying a cross.

The phrase "you washed your hands" refers to the biblical story of Pontius Pilate, who washed his hands before the crucifixion of Christ, absolving himself of responsibility. Similarly, the addressee in the song has distanced themselves from the protagonist, leaving them to suffer alone.

The protagonist doesn't understand the reasons for such treatment, repeatedly asking "why?". They are suffering, "calling out" to the addressee, but their pleas fall on deaf ears. The addressee's silence and inaction are perceived as a cold rejection of the reality of the protagonist's feelings.

Despite the pain and disappointment, the protagonist still hopes for reconciliation. They plead to be released from the "cross" of suffering, to be helped with the burden of pain. However, there's a sense of despair in the protagonist's voice, a realization that it might be too late.

The recurring questions of "why?" and the pleas to "hold me" amplify the feeling of hopelessness and despair, highlighting the depth of the emotional chasm between the protagonist and the addressee.