River
Barry Manilow (Holiday) Lyrics
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They're cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer
And signing songs of joy and peace
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
But it don't snow here
I'm going to make a lot of money
Then I'm going to quit this crazy scene
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I made my baby cry
Well she tried hard to help me
You know, she put me at ease
And she loved me so naughty
Made me weak in the knees
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I'm so hard to handle
I'm selfish and I'm sad
Now I've gone and lost the best baby
That I ever had
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I made my baby say goodbye
Well It's coming on Christmas
They're cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer
Singing songs of joy and peace
God I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
The lyrics of "River" by Barry Manilow (Holiday) reflect a feeling of loneliness and longing for something that is missing during the holiday season. The first verse sets up the scene of Christmas coming with tree-cutting, reindeer decor, and joyful songs. However, the singer's reality is different as they live in a place where it doesn't snow and everything is green. The sudden shift to wishing for a river to skate on is a metaphor for escapism. The singer is yearning to get away from their surroundings, the crazy scene they are in, and their own emotional struggles. They are looking for a place of peace and tranquility to escape to.
Further, in the second verse, the singer explains how they have lost someone special to them. They describe their own flaws, how hard they are to handle, and how they have made their "baby" cry. The use of "baby" suggests that the relationship was intimate and close. The singer admits that they were selfish and sad, and that they have lost the best baby they ever had. The third and final verse repeats the first verse, tying the narrative in a circle. The repetition shows that the singer's situation has not changed, and they are still looking for an escape from their reality.
Line by Line Meaning
It's coming on Christmas
The holiday season is approaching
They're cutting down trees
People are preparing to decorate for Christmas by cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer
Decorations of reindeer are being hung up
And signing songs of joy and peace
Music is being played to celebrate the holiday and bring happiness
Oh I wish I had a river
The artist desires an escape from their current situation
I could skate away on
The singer longs for a picturesque river to escape on skates
But it don't snow here
The singer is in a region that doesn't receive snow
It stays pretty green
The landscape remains green throughout the year without snow
I'm going to make a lot of money
The artist has aspirations to generate wealth
Then I'm going to quit this crazy scene
The artist plans to leave their unpleasant environment
I wish I had a river so long
The singer desires a river of considerable length
I would teach my feet to fly
The artist wishes to achieve a sense of liberation and freedom
I made my baby cry
The singer has caused emotional pain to their loved one
Well she tried hard to help me
The singer's partner attempted to assist them in their struggles
You know, she put me at ease
The singer's partner provided comfort and relief
And she loved me so naughty
The artist's partner had a mischievous, fun-loving affection for them
Made me weak in the knees
The artist's partner made them feel overwhelmed with emotion, perhaps through physical intimacy
I'm so hard to handle
The singer acknowledges their difficult attributes
I'm selfish and I'm sad
The singer is aware of their negative emotions and actions
Now I've gone and lost the best baby
The artist reflects on losing their partner, whom they value highly
That I ever had
The artist recognizes the greatness of their lost partner
I made my baby say goodbye
The artist's actions led to the end of their relationship
Singing songs of joy and peace
Continuing from earlier, music is being used to celebrate Christmas and promote positivity
God I wish I had a river
The artist repeats their desire for an escape
I could skate away on
Reinforcing the earlier stated yearning for a picturesque river escape
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Crazy Crow Music / Siquomb Music Publishing
Written by: JONI MITCHELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind