 A crossroads or an intersection of rural roads is one of the few landmarks in the Mississippi Delta , a flat featureless plain between the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers . It is part of the local iconography and various businesses use the name , such as gas stations , banks , and retail shops . A crossroads is also where cars are more likely to slow down or stop , thus presenting the best opportunity for a hitchiker . In the simplest reading , Johnson describes his grief at being unable to catch a ride at an intersection before the sun sets . However , many see different levels of meaning and some have attached a supernatural significance to the song . 
