In The River
A Hawk and a Hacksaw Lyrics


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May you live everyday of your life
May you live everyday of your life

Hey, I watched my body float to the hall and out of the room were I lay
And, A river ran through the corridor, it wet me to my knees

La la la la la la la la la la
Roll his bones over the stones
Roll his bones over the stones, he's only a pauper nobody knows

Hey, a river is such a pleasant place to sit along side
And, swimming isn't so dangerous if you only give it a try

La la la la la la la la la la

Roll his bones over the stones
Roll his bones over the stones, he's only a pauper nobody knows

You can't go home again
You can't go home again, a vampire

Roll his bones over the stones
Roll his bones over the stones, he's only a pauper nobody knows





He's only a pauper nobody knows

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of ‘In the River’ are a poetic expression of the desire for a meaningful existence. By repeating the line “May you live everyday of your life” twice, the song emphasizes the importance of living in the present moment and making the most out of every single day. The following lines describe a surreal experience where the singer witnesses his own body floating above the ground and a river running through the hallway. This dream-like moment could be interpreted as a metaphor for the fragility of life and the transience of existence, as everything seems to be in a state of constant flux.


The chorus of the song, “Roll his bones over the stones, he's only a pauper nobody knows” furthers this idea of the insignificance of life, as the bones of a pauper are rolled over the stones, an act that nobody pays any attention to. This is contrasted by the previous statements about the desire for a meaningful existence, leading to the conclusion that while an individual's existence may be significant to them, it may not have any impact beyond their immediate circle.


The lyric “You can't go home again, a vampire” is an interesting line that adds to the otherworldly feel of the song. The first part of the sentence refers to the idea that once you leave your childhood home, you cannot go back to relive your past experiences. The second half of the sentence brings a supernatural element to the verse, perhaps implying that the singer feels that they are not of this world, that they do not belong anywhere, and they are unable to find a home.


Line by Line Meaning

May you live everyday of your life
Wishing you the best in making the most of every moment.


Hey, I watched my body float to the hall and out of the room were I lay
Experiencing the out of body phenomenon where you feel like you're watching yourself from a distance.


And, A river ran through the corridor, it wet me to my knees
Imagining a powerful river flowing and soaking through everything in its path.


La la la la la la la la la la
Expressing a melody with no particular meaning or significance.


Roll his bones over the stones
Suggesting the act of moving or rolling someone's skeleton over rough terrain.


Roll his bones over the stones, he's only a pauper nobody knows
Implying the unimportance of someone's remains to the general public.


Hey, a river is such a pleasant place to sit along side
Appreciating the serenity and tranquility one feels from spending time by a river.


And, swimming isn't so dangerous if you only give it a try
Encouraging one not to be afraid and to take risks in life.


You can't go home again
Acknowledging the truth that one can never truly return to the past and relive their previous experiences.


You can't go home again, a vampire
Adding humor to the previous line by throwing in an unusual and unexpected character.


He's only a pauper nobody knows
Reaffirming the insignificance of someone's remains and the fact that they will not be remembered by many people.




Contributed by Penelope B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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