Down By The River
Allen Jon Lyrics

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Do you remember you took my hand
And we walked out across the fields
Down the lane and over the railway line
Our hearts were racing our feet were chasing
We were looking for a hide away
Getting lost and losing track of time

We went down by the river

We went down by the river
Where the water ran slow
Was where we let our loving run free
We went down by the river
We went down by the river
Just laying low
My true love and me

You let your long brown hair hang down
Your summer dress was swaying in the breeze
When we were skimming stones across the stream
You had a lazy style and a carefree smile
You were a breathless beauty to behold
The sweetest sight my eyes had ever seen

We went down by the river
We went down by the river
Where the water ran slow
Was where we let our loving run free
We went down by the river
We went down by the river
Just laying low
My true love and me

Well waters rise and streams divide
And that river keeps rolling on
Paper boats and pleasure drift away
And you may be just a memory
But you're shinning like a distant star
It seems to me as clear as yesterday

We went down by the river
We went down by the river
Where the water ran slow
Was where we let our loving run free
We went down by the river
We went down by the river

Just laying low
My true love and me

Overall Meaning

The song "Down By The River" by Allan Jon is a reminiscing of a memorable moment between the singer and his true love. The song opens with the declaration of remembering a particular moment when he held his love's hand and went out for a walk across the fields, down the lane, and over the railway line. Their hearts were racing, and their feet were chasing as they look for a hideaway, getting lost and losing track of time. It is a moment of excitement, which lovers usually experience in the early stages of their relationship when they are still exploring each other's company.

The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "We went down by the river" three times, emphasizing their destination. When they got there, the water was running slow, and it was the perfect place to let their loving run free. The verse two tells of how his true love looked that day, with her long brown hair hanging down and her summer dress swaying in the breeze. As they skimmed stones across the stream, she had a lazy style and carefree smile, and she was the sweetest sight he had ever seen.

In the last verse, the singer talks about how time has passed and the changes that have occurred. Though water rises, and streams divide, the river keeps on rolling. Paper boats and pleasure drift away, but memories remain. His true love may be just a memory, but she shines like a distant star that burned brightly as if it were just yesterday. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, bringing closure to the memory of the day they went down by the river.

Line by Line Meaning

Do you remember you took my hand
The singer reminisces a past moment when their partner took their hand.

And we walked out across the fields
The singer and their partner walked through fields together.

Down the lane and over the railway line
The pair walked down a lane and crossed a railway line to get to their destination.

Our hearts were racing our feet were chasing
The artist's heart was racing and their feet were moving quickly as they walked.

We were looking for a hide away
The artist and their partner were looking for a place to hide away together.

Getting lost and losing track of time
The singer and their partner lost track of time while they were getting lost in their moment together.

Where the water ran slow
The place they went to down by the river had slow-moving water.

Was where we let our loving run free
The artist describes how they and their partner were able to express their love freely down by the river.

Just laying low
The pair were simply lying low and enjoying each other's company.

My true love and me
The artist refers to their partner as their true love.

You let your long brown hair hang down
The singer reminisces the way their partner's hair hung down while they were down by the river.

Your summer dress was swaying in the breeze
The artist shares the charming sight of their partner's summer dress swaying in the breeze.

When we were skimming stones across the stream
The singer vividly remembers skimming stones across the stream along with their partner.

You had a lazy style and a carefree smile
The singer describes their partner's carefree and relaxed disposition with a smile.

You were a breathless beauty to behold
The singer expresses how beautiful their partner appeared to them when they were down by the river.

Well waters rise and streams divide
The artist reflects on how time has passed and how things have changed.

And that river keeps rolling on
The river keeps flowing and life goes on despite everything that has changed.

Paper boats and pleasure drift away
The singer refers to childhood activities that have since been forgotten and lost.

And you may be just a memory
The singer acknowledges that their partner may now just be a memory of the past.

But you're shinning like a distant star
Despite everything changing, the artist still holds their partner in high regard and thinks of them as a shining star in the distance.

It seems to me as clear as yesterday
The artist emphasizes how vivid their memories of their partner still are, even if they are distant.

Lyrics © HAL LEONARD CORPORATION
Written by: ZANE VAN HUKES

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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