Afro-Appalachian folk artist Mon Rovîa wrote the song “crooked the road.” as a reminder to make a clear distinction between pain and his own identity. I was in love with my suffering, it became who I knew myself as,” explains Mon Rovîa. “Because of this I couldn’t see the hands that had been extended to lift me out. Ones that were longing to see me become who I was meant to be. For the listener I hope they find freedom, I hope they find strength to pull away from what brings [them] down. The song is for all of us who thought in our darkest moments, ‘this is who I am’.”