For 30 years Allan Taylor has been considered as the consummate performer, a writer of literary gracefulness whose troubadour chronicles encapsulate the realism of otherwise unsung heroes, otherwise uncharted lives. His songs are faultlessly constructed and flawlessly performed, with his instantly recognizable voice, attractively dark and mellow, accompanied by his intricately detailed yet full-sounding guitar.
A House by the River
Allan Taylor Lyrics
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And all those sweet deceptions and one more broken vow
And the dark-eyed poets who promised you forever, tell me
Where are they now
Where are they now
You were always running, just one more step ahead
And just like all the others, I was following somehow
Where am I now
Where am I now
Now sweet solitude surrounds you like a blanket of wild heather
You are one with the land and the sky somehow
And the seasons sway in sympathy as you dance in time together, tell me
Where are you now
Where are you now
And I will write a song for you and try to fill this space
And I'll take the time in passing to wonder from afar
Maybe I'll try to find you though you never left a trace
And maybe then I will know who you are
Maybe then I will know who you are
The lyrics of Allan Taylor's song "A House by the River" tell a story of someone who has given up on love and traded it for the quiet and peaceful life of living alone by a river. The opening lines refer to the painful history the person has had with love, having traded in "all [their] lovers" for the "house by the river." The lyrics paint a picture of a person who has been deceived by those who promised forever, leaving them feeling lost and alone.
The song then shifts to the singer's perspective, reflecting on their own relationship with this person that has been lost. They lament over the possibility that maybe they said something that pushed this person away, wondering where they are now. The chorus then returns to the person who now lives in solitude, surrounded by the beauty of nature. The lyrics evoke a sense of wonder as to how this person has become one with the land and sky, in tune with the seasons and dancing in time with them.
Line by Line Meaning
You traded all your lovers for a house by the river
You gave up all your past relationships in the pursuit of a peaceful life by the river.
And all those sweet deceptions and one more broken vow
Your previous relationships were based on deceit and mistrust, ultimately leading to their failure.
And the dark-eyed poets who promised you forever, tell me
Where are they now
Where are they now
The people who you deemed promised you everlasting love are no longer in your life, and you wonder where their promises ended up.
You were always running, just one more step ahead
And just like all the others, I was following somehow
Was it something I wasn't saying, something I should have said, tell me
Where am I now
Where am I now
You were always on the move, and although I was by your side, I was unsure of my place. I am searching for my place beside you and questioning why I never found it before.
Now sweet solitude surrounds you like a blanket of wild heather
You are one with the land and the sky somehow
And the seasons sway in sympathy as you dance in time together, tell me
Where are you now
Where are you now
You have found peace in the solitude and nature around you, becoming one with it, and you dance with the seasons in harmony. I am wondering where you are now, still surrounded by this peace.
And I will write a song for you and try to fill this space
And I'll take the time in passing to wonder from afar
Maybe I'll try to find you though you never left a trace
And maybe then I will know who you are
Maybe then I will know who you are
I will try to fill the space left behind by your departure by writing a song for you. Even though you left without a trace, I will try to find you to understand the person you have become after all these years.
Contributed by Ava P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.