In an interview with NPR, Adele discussed how the river is connected with her life.
"A lot of my life was spent walking alongside the River Lea to go and get to somewhere else. It linked quite a lot of estates to each other, so that’s how you’d meet up with your friends. The idea of the song is that, especially since I’ve become a parent, let alone writing this record, I’m dealing with myself for the first time. And I have a lot of bad habits. And rather than admitting that I have bad traits in my actual character, I blame it on where I’m from."
River Lea
Adele Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I need to learn to lighten up and learn how to be young
But my heart is a valley, it's so shallow and man made
I'm scared to death if I let you in that you'll see I'm just a fake
Sometimes I feel lonely in the arms of your touch
But I know that's just me, 'cause nothing ever is enough
When I was a child I grew up by the River Lea
There was something in the water, now that something's in me
Oh I can't go back, but the reeds are growing out of my fingertips
I can't go back to the river
But it's in my roots, in my veins
In my blood and I stain every heart that I use to heal the pain
Oh, it's in my roots, in my veins
In my blood and I stain every heart that I use to heal the pain
So I blame it on the River Lea, the River Lea, the River Lea
Yeah, I blame it on the River Lea, the River Lea, the River Lea
I should probably tell you now before it's way too late
That I never meant to hurt you or to lie straight to your face
Consider this my apology, I know it's years in advance
But I'd rather say it now in case I never get the chance
No, I can't go back, but the reeds are growing out of my fingertips
I can't go back to the river
But it's in my roots, in my veins
In my blood and I stain every heart that I use to heal the pain
Oh, it's in my roots, in my veins
In my blood and I stain every heart that I use to heal the pain
So I blame it on the River Lea, the River Lea, the River Lea
Yeah, I blame it on the River Lea, the River Lea, the River Lea
So I blame it on the River Lea, the River Lea, the River Lea
Yeah, I blame it on the River Lea, the River Lea, the River Lea, oh
River Lea
River Lea (oh)
River Lea
River Lea (oh)
River Lea
River Lea (oh)
River Lea
River Lea (oh)
River Lea
The River Lea
The River Lea
River Lea
The River Lea
The River Lea
In this song, Adele talks about how everyone around her is urging her to move on and be more carefree, but her heart is still struggling to open up and be vulnerable. She fears that if she lets someone in, they will discover that she is not as strong or confident as she appears to be, and that she is a "fake". She remembers her childhood by the River Lea, and how there was something in the water that has now become a part of her. Although she can never go back, the river is still in her roots and veins, and she blames it for her inability to fully let go and heal the pain that she has inflicted on others.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody tells me it's 'bout time that I moved on
People advise me to let go of the past and move forward.
And I need to learn to lighten up and learn how to be young
I am being asked to relax and enjoy the present moment.
But my heart is a valley, it's so shallow and man made
My emotions are superficial and manufactured, not genuine.
I'm scared to death if I let you in that you'll see I'm just a fake
I am afraid that if I open up to someone, they will see the real me and realize I am not as perfect as I seem.
Sometimes I feel lonely in the arms of your touch
Even when I am with someone, I still feel alone and disconnected.
But I know that's just me, 'cause nothing ever is enough
I understand that my dissatisfaction comes from within and that nothing external will ever be enough to fill the void.
When I was a child I grew up by the River Lea
As a child, I lived near the River Lea.
There was something in the water, now that something's in me
The river had an effect on me, leaving a lasting impact.
Oh I can't go back, but the reeds are growing out of my fingertips
I cannot physically return to the river, but I feel its presence within me.
I can't go back to the river
I cannot physically return to the river.
But it's in my roots, it's in my veins
The river's impact is ingrained in my being.
It's in my blood and I stain every heart that I use to heal the pain
The river's impact on me affects how I interact with others, causing me to unintentionally hurt them.
So I blame it on the River Lea, the River Lea, the River Lea
I attribute my difficulties to the impact of the river on me.
Yeah, I blame it on the River Lea, the River Lea, the River Lea
I attribute my difficulties to the impact of the river on me.
I should probably tell you now before it's way too late
I realize I should speak up soon, or it will be too late.
That I never meant to hurt you or lie straight to your face
I want to apologize for any pain I may have caused you, and admit that I never intended to deceive you.
Consider this my apology, I know it's years in advance
I am acknowledging my wrongdoing and attempting to make amends, even if it is earlier than necessary.
But I'd rather say it now in case I never get the chance
I would rather apologize now just in case I do not have the opportunity to do so later.
No, I can't go back, but the reeds are growing out of my fingertips
I cannot physically return to the river, but its impact on me is still present and growing.
But it's in my roots, it's in my veins
The river's impact is ingrained in who I am.
It's in my blood and I stain every heart that I use to heal the pain
The river's impact on me affects how I interact with others, causing me to unintentionally hurt them.
So I blame it on the River Lea, the River Lea, the River Lea
I attribute my difficulties to the impact of the river on me.
Yeah I blame it on the River Lea, the River Lea, the River Lea
I attribute my difficulties to the impact of the river on me.
So I blame it on the River Lea, the River Lea, the River Lea
I attribute my difficulties to the impact of the river on me.
Yeah, I blame it on the River Lea, the River Lea, the River Lea
I attribute my difficulties to the impact of the river on me.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Adele Laurie Blue Adkins, Brian Joseph Burton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Abu Bakar Abu Bakar
on Set Fire to the Rain
I let it fall, my heart
And as it fell, you rose to claim it
It was dark and I was over
Until you kissed my lips and you saved me
My hands, they're strong
But my knees were far too weak
To stand in your arms
Without falling to your feet
But there's a side to you
That I never knew, never knew
All the things you'd say
They were never true, never true
And the games you play
You would always win, always win
But I set fire to the rain
Watched it pour as I touched your face
Well, it burned while I cried
'Cause I heard it screaming out your name
Your name
When I lay with you
I could stay there
Close my eyes
Feel you here forever
You and me together, nothing gets better
'Cause there's a side to you
That I never knew, never knew
All the things you'd say
They were never true, never true
And the games you'd play
You would always win, always win
But I set fire to the rain
Watched it pour as I touched your face
Well, it burned while I cried
'Cause I heard it screaming out your name
Your name
I set fire to the rain
And I threw us into the flames
When it fell, something died
'Cause I knew that that was
The last time, the last time
Sometimes I wake up by the door
That heart you caught must be waiting for you
Even now, when we're already over
I can't help myself from looking for you
I set fire to the rain
Watched it pour as I touched your face
Well, it burned while I cried
'Cause I heard it screaming out your name
Your name
I set fire to the rain
And I threw us into the flames
When it fell, something died
'Cause I knew that that was the last time
The last time
Oh, oh, no
Let it burn
Oh, oh
Let it burn
Let it burn
Jai
on Someone Like You
I love this song its actually pretty relatable to me and my mom but more so my mom
Philip Kassabian
on Skyfall
I remember this song from when it came out and it's absolutely great.
virgenj494@gmail.com
on Easy On ME
The only one I like and be happy.
Real love and be the best music
ermelindaARMYS
on Easy On ME
musica
deez
on Easy On ME
deez nuts
Kamel Elakermi
on Rolling in the Deep
+2130777168800
Ct Murnie
on Rolling in the Deep
i am mastering this!