River
Brian Eno & John Cale Lyrics
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Sleep, dark as the night
Somehow it seems it was all another dream
Soon dissolved in the light.
Oh, we were by the waterline.
Vague, the song of the night.
Innocent to all the peasant gods with you,
So, we drink to be renewed.
On the long, deep river
Where the moorhens cry
As the first sun quivers in the open sky,
Oh, she came down the river.
Soon, all the leaves were still.
The current was strong and the river was so long.
So, we drink to be renewed.
In the long cool evening,
Where the peacocks shiver
And the boat starts down the silver river way
I remember you saying,
As her deep eyes opened,
In the first light seeing her,
Here is someone new.
The River by Brian Eno and John Cale is a song that evokes imagery of a serene yet melancholic landscape. The opening lines speak of being submerged deep into the water, asleep in the darkness of the night, with a realization that it all seems like a dream that will soon dissolve in the light. The phrase "Oh, we were by the waterline" suggests a feeling of being close to shore, and the vague song of the night hints at something eerie, yet soothing. The next lines mention being innocent to all the peasant gods, and drinking to be renewed, possibly signifying a ritualistic aspect to the journey by the river.
The mood of the song changes when the woman appears in the picture, and the long, deep river takes center stage. The moorhens cry, and the sun quivers in the open sky. The leaves become still, and the current gains strength as the river continues to flow. Once again, renewal by drinking is alluded to. We're then transported to the long cool evening, where the peacocks shiver, and the boat starts down the silver river way. Finally, the last lines talk about the singer seeing someone new in the first light, suggesting a new beginning or a fresh start.
Line by Line Meaning
So deep in the water
We were submerged completely, surrounded by darkness.
Sleep, dark as the night
It was quiet and peaceful, like the night.
Somehow it seems it was all another dream
It's hard to believe what just happened was real.
Soon dissolved in the light.
The darkness quickly faded away as the sun came up.
Oh, we were by the waterline.
We were close enough to the water's edge to hear it lapping.
Vague, the song of the night.
The sounds of the night were muffled and unclear.
Innocent to all the peasant gods with you,
Together we were unaware of the beliefs of the commoners.
So, we drink to be renewed.
We drink in hopes of feeling refreshed and revitalized.
On the long, deep river
We were travelling down a vast and profound waterway.
Where the moorhens cry
We could hear the mournful sounds of the waterbirds.
As the first sun quivers in the open sky,
The sunrise was a beautiful and unique sight.
Oh, she came down the river.
A woman arrived, travelling by boat.
Soon, all the leaves were still.
Everything around us became quieter and more serene.
The current was strong and the river was so long.
The water was moving quickly and we had a long journey ahead.
In the long cool evening,
As the night began to fall and the air cooled,
Where the peacocks shiver
We could see the birds trembling in the chilly weather.
And the boat starts down the silver river way
We set out on our journey again, heading down the silver waterway.
I remember you saying,
I recall you telling me,
As her deep eyes opened,
As we saw her eyes for the first time,
In the first light seeing her,
Seeing her in the light for the first time,
Here is someone new.
We encountered someone we had never met before.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRIAN ENO, DAVID BYRNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@marceloaguilar3729
EL RÍO
Tan profundo en el agua
del sueño, oscuro como la noche
De alguna manera parece que todo era otro sueño
Pronto se disuelve en la luz.
Oh, estábamos por la línea de flotación.
Vague, la canción de la noche.
Inocente a todos los dioses campesinas con usted,
tanto, que bebemos ser renovado.
En el largo río, profundo
Cuando las pollas de agua lloran
Como el primer sol tiembla en el cielo abierto ...
Oh, ella cayó al río.
Pronto, todas las hojas seguían.
La corriente era fuerte y el río estaba tanto tiempo.
Por lo tanto, bebemos ser renovado.
En la noche fría de largo,
donde los pavos reales tiemblan
Y el barco comienza por el camino del río de plata ...
Recuerdo que estás diciendo,
Como abrieron sus ojos profundos,
En la primera luz verla,
"Aquí es alguien nuevo".
Referencias:
Brian señala en su diario que escribió "The River" por el nacimiento de su hija Irial (entrada 11 de octubre).
Audición alternativa:
Robert PM Hart: En 'The River', oigo la línea como "inocente de todos los dioses campesinas que conocíamos".
@malenurse51
great song
@jcc152509
Eno is brilliant and needs to be recognized for his profound talent and visionary ways.
@robyoung9968
I only heard One Word for many years, I’m enjoying this so much..
@giuseppinalozza2158
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
@EnosEverything
Two of the most talented human beings associated with music on this planet melding their brilliant minds together - it doesn't get much better.... I have owned this album for years and it's so underrated and it shouldn't be.... Majestic...
@dogbyte7875
@EnosEverything
I too have owned this album (CD). But as with my 45's and other vinyl, I let them go.
Fortunately, once heard, you cannot un-hear.
I now have the album from iTunes.
A truly underrated and fantastic album!
@yokota61
The true masterpiece of the album.
@socallymike
listening to eno since 1974- it is one of his best- looking for crime in the desert
@dropkick45
Such a sweet song. I read he wrote it the day his daughter was born.
I remember you saying, as the deep eyes opened, in the first light seeing her "here is someone new"
@cowboylikefrank994
thanks! i was just wondering what the "she" means