Hazard

Richard Marx's 'Hazard' leads listeners along a dark and poignant journey threaded with injustice and longing. From the outset, the protagonist is an outsider, moving to Hazard, Nebraska with his mother and immediately labeled as 'not right' by its inhabitants. This early seed of prejudice blooms fully when the man forms an intimate connection with Mary, a ray of hope who sees past the rumors to the person he really is.

Their serene walks by the river are a stark contrast to the swirling suspicion that envelops them—a moment of peace in the protagonist's otherwise troubled life. However, Mary's mysterious disappearance plunges the song into a deeper emotional abyss. With the town quick to point fingers, the protagonist is engulfed by a wave of accusation, turning his once peaceful refuge by the river into a symbol of his turmoil.

The emotional weight of the song is amplified by the protagonist's solitude as he grapples with Mary's loss and his vilification. It’s an exploration of despair and desperation, as even the memory of being by the river is tainted by the town's unjust verdict. The listener travels through his inner turmoil as he struggles for an ounce of redemption in a place that has none left for him.

Ultimately, the protagonist's journey is laced with defeat, as symbolized by the line 'There's no escape for me this time'. Yet, it is also a narrative of resistance — he refuses to surrender to the town's narrative, clings to his innocence, and yearns for an escape from the accusations. Richard Marx delivers an emotional climax as his character resigns to leave, suggesting a conclusion that oscillates between escape and acceptance.