River Runs Deep
J.J. Cale Lyrics
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The river runs deep and the water is cold as ice
I go down there every chance I get
It's where my baby she met her death
And the river runs deep and the water's cold as ice
Ain't no woman gonna make a fool out of me
Ain't no woman gonna make a fool out of me
Running 'round, that's what they said
She's at the bottom of the river bed
And the river runs deep, the water's cold as ice
No cheating woman gonna get a good man down
Cheating woman gonna get a good man down
Running 'round like a silly fool
You're gonna end up at the bottom of the pool
The river runs deep, the water's cold as ice
The lyrics of J.J. Cale's song 'River Runs Deep' are loaded with dark imagery, that of a cold, deep river which claims the life of his beloved. The river is depicted as unforgiving, so distant and so melancholy that the singer of the song is drawn to it, much like a moth to a flame. Despite knowing that the water is cold as ice and the river is dangerous, the singer goes down there every chance he gets, perhaps as a way of coping with his loss.
The lyrics also appear to be a warning against unfaithful women. The singer suggests that no cheating woman is going to make a fool out of him, and that they are doomed to end up in the same state as his beloved. It could be that his fear of being rejected and betrayed by women stems from his own emotional scars that he has acquired in the past. The chorus is repeated twice, adding to the mournful and haunting quality of the song.
The song is known for its simplicity, as Cale delivers his message without any adornment, his voice barely above a whisper. While the music may seem simple, its effectiveness cannot be denied. Overall, the song is an ode to the power of loss, both in love and life.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, the river runs deep and the water is cold as ice
The river is deep and has a very low temperature.
The river runs deep and the water is cold as ice
The river is still deep and has a very low temperature.
I go down there every chance I get
The person frequently visits the river.
It's where my baby she met her death
The person's significant other died at the river.
And the river runs deep and the water's cold as ice
The river remains deep and has a very low temperature.
Ain't no woman gonna make a fool out of me
The person will not let a woman make them a fool.
Running 'round, that's what they said
Others have accused the significant other of cheating.
She's at the bottom of the river bed
The significant other is dead and at the bottom of the river.
And the river runs deep, the water's cold as ice
The river is still deep and has a very low temperature.
No cheating woman gonna get a good man down
A cheating woman will not bring down a good man.
Cheating woman gonna get a good man down
A cheating woman can bring down a good man.
Running 'round like a silly fool
The woman is running around foolishly.
You're gonna end up at the bottom of the pool
The foolish woman will end up dead in the water.
The river runs deep, the water's cold as ice
The river remains deep and has a very low temperature.
Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: J.J. Cale
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind