The notion of heaven and hell seems implausible, even simplistic—all the endless creative tortures, licking Satan's filthy boots, etc.—but equally unconvincing is the atheists’ zealous cry of “There's nothing! You die, and that's it!” After all, there's no such thing as the number zero in nature. “Nothing” doesn’t actually exist. What if Paradise and Hades are all around us, right here, right now—only we don’t understand or see it? Of course, this comedic song is really about “raising hell,” as in giving the middle finger to convention and the rules. Which we all need to do sometimes.

AC/DC, “Highway to Hell,” 1979. Written by Bon Scott, Angus Young & Malcolm Young.

This post is part of Music 100, a love letter to songs. 100 words on 100 songs in 100 days, running from Groundhog Day to early June, 2025.

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