Alan Menken (born July 22, 1949 in New Rochelle, New York, United States) i… Read Full Bio ↴Alan Menken (born July 22, 1949 in New Rochelle, New York, United States) is an American musical theatre and film composer, and pianist. Menken has collaborated with several renowned lyricists including Howard Ashman (1950-1991), Tim Rice and Stephen Schwartz. For his work he has won eight Academy Awards as well as ten additional nominations.
His best known work includes the Disney animated movies, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, as well as Little Shop of Horrors, Enchanted, Tangled and most recently, Sister Act the Musical.

Just Around the Riverbend
Alan Menken Lyrics

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What I love most about rivers is
You can't step in the same river twice
The water's always changing, always flowing

But people, I guess, can't live like that
We all must pay a price
To be safe, we lose our chance of ever knowing

What's around the river bend
Waiting just around the river bend

I look once more just around the river bend
Beyond the shore where the gulls fly free
Don't know what for what I dream the day might send
Just around the river bend for me, coming for me

I feel it there beyond those trees
Or right behind these waterfalls
Can I ignore that sound of distant drumming?

For a handsome sturdy husband who builds handsome sturdy walls
And never dreams that something might be coming?

Just around the river bend
Just around the river bend

I look once more just around the river bend
Beyond the shore somewhere past the sea
Don't know what for why do all my dreams extend
Just around the river bend, just around the river bend

Should I choose the smoothest course
Steady as the beating drum? Should I marry Kocoum?
Is all my dreaming at an end?

Or do you still wait for me, dream giver
Just around the river bend?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Just Around the Riverbend" by Alan Menken, as performed by Judy Kuhn in the movie Pocahontas, talk about Pocahontas' inner turmoil as she contemplates her future. She sings about her love for the river, which she sees as a symbol of change, growth and opportunity. According to her, people are not like rivers, they are afraid of change and prefer to live in comfort rather than taking risks. As a result, they miss out on great experiences and opportunities that lie ahead.

Pocahontas dreams of what's "just around the riverbend," beyond the shore and the trees, where she could find fulfillment and a sense of purpose. She is unsure of what she wants, as she mentions the possibility of marrying Kocoum, a handsome and reliable warrior who builds sturdy walls, but also questions if her dreams are over or if the dream giver is still waiting for her.

Pocahontas is torn between two worlds, that of her own people and the white settlers, as well as between her duty to her tribe and her own desires. The song's lyrics reflect her inner thoughts and aspirations, as she tries to navigate through life and find her own path.

Line by Line Meaning

What I love most about rivers is
Rivers are my favorite thing because

You can't step in the same river twice
The water in a river is always changing and flowing, so

The water's always changing, always flowing
The water in a river is constantly moving and transforming,

But people, I guess, can't live like that
Humans, on the other hand, seem unable to accept that kind of change and uncertainty,

We all must pay a price
And because of this, there is always some kind of sacrifice or cost involved,

To be safe, we lose our chance of ever knowing
We give up the opportunity to experience new things or gain knowledge in order to feel secure and protected.

What's around the river bend
What lies beyond the river's curve,

Waiting just around the river bend
Something unknown that is eagerly anticipated or feared,

I look once more just around the river bend
I take another peek beyond the river's edge,

Beyond the shore where the gulls fly free
To the other side where the birds soar over the water without restraint,

Don't know what for what I dream the day might send
I don't have a specific purpose or goal in mind for what I hope the future might bring,

Just around the river bend for me, coming for me
But whatever it is, it's approaching and will soon be within my reach.

I feel it there beyond those trees
I have a sense that it's there, just beyond the woods,

Or right behind these waterfalls
Or maybe it's hidden just out of sight behind the cascading water,

Can I ignore that sound of distant drumming?
But there's a persistent, rhythmic beat that I can't seem to tune out or disregard,

For a handsome sturdy husband who builds handsome sturdy walls
Despite this, I may be tempted to settle for a secure and stable life with a dependable partner who can provide protection and shelter,

And never dreams that something might be coming?
Someone who fails to see the potential for excitement or unexpected events lurking beyond the horizon?

Should I choose the smoothest course
Should I opt for the easiest and most predictable path,

Steady as the beating drum? Should I marry Kocoum?
Should I marry someone like Kocoum, who is steady and reliable but lacks passion and imagination?

Is all my dreaming at an end?
Does this mean that I need to give up my dreams and settle for a mundane existence?

Or do you still wait for me, dream giver
Or is there still hope that I can fulfill my aspirations and find happiness?

Just around the river bend?
Is it possible that my dreams are still within reach, just waiting for me to take the plunge and pursue them?

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ALAN MENKEN, STEPHEN LAURENCE SCHWARTZ

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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