The River
Brooks Jefferson Lyrics


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You know a dream is like a river
Ever changin' as it flows
And a dreamer's just a vessel
That must follow where it goes
Trying to learn from what's behind you
And never knowing what's in store
Makes each day a constant battle
Just to stay between the shores... and

I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry
Like a bird upon the wind
These waters are my sky
I'll never reach my destination
If I never try
So I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry

Too many times we stand aside
And let the waters slip away
'Til what we put off 'til tomorrow
Has now become today
So don't you sit upon the shoreline
And say you're satisfied
Choose to chance the rapids
And dare to dance the tide... yes

I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry
Like a bird upon the wind
These waters are my sky
I'll never reach my destination
If I never try
So I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry

There's bound to be rough waters
And I know I'll take some falls
But with the good Lord as my captain
I can make it through them all... yes

I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry
Like a bird upon the wind
These waters are my sky
I'll never reach my destination
If I never try
So I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry

Yes, I will sail my vessel




'Til the river runs dry
'Til the river runs dry

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of The River by Brooks Jefferson draw a comparison between life and a river. A dream is like a river, constantly changing as it flows, and a dreamer is merely a vessel that must follow where it goes. The song encourages the listener to take chances, to dare to dance the tide, and to not sit upon the shoreline and say they're satisfied. The constant battle of each day is to stay between the shores. However, there's bound to be rough waters, and the good Lord as the captain can allow one to make it through them all.


Jefferson's song is meant to inspire and motivate individuals by using the metaphor of a river to describe the journey of life. The lyrics emphasize the importance of taking risks, being determined, and pursuing one's dreams. The song suggests that life is never constant, and it's necessary to move with the flow of the river, to take chances and to venture out of the safety of the shoreline. It's a reminder to follow your dreams and not to let them slip away.


Overall, the lyrics of The River can be interpreted in various ways. It's a powerful message that stresses the importance of embracing challenges, taking risks, and pushing through rough waters in order to succeed in life.


Line by Line Meaning

You know a dream is like a river
A dream is constantly changing, just like a river


Ever changin' as it flows
It is constantly changing as it continues to move forward


And a dreamer's just a vessel
A dreamer is just a means of carrying a dream forward


That must follow where it goes
And must continue to follow it wherever it leads


Trying to learn from what's behind you
It's important to reflect and learn from past experiences


And never knowing what's in store
While continuing to move forward, there will always be an element of uncertainty


Makes each day a constant battle
The struggle to navigate this uncertainty can wear someone down over time


Just to stay between the shores... and
But staying the course and not deviating from one's path is essential


I will sail my vessel
The artist is determined to keep moving forward with their dreams


'Til the river runs dry
Until they achieve their ultimate goal or until their dream is no longer attainable


Like a bird upon the wind
The singer's journey is like a bird soaring freely in the wind


These waters are my sky
The river, and the journey it represents, is everything to the artist


I'll never reach my destination
The singer understands that the journey is the ultimate goal, not necessarily the destination


If I never try
Taking risks and trying is essential for progress and success


So I will sail my vessel
The singer is reiterating their determination


Too many times we stand aside
Often, people do not take action towards their dreams or goals


And let the waters slip away
They let opportunities pass them by


'Til what we put off 'til tomorrow
What we continually delay or procrastinate on


Has now become today
end up becoming the present rather than the future


So don't you sit upon the shoreline
The artist urges the listener to take action


And say you're satisfied
And not settle for less than what they truly desire


Choose to chance the rapids
Taking risks and diving into challenges headfirst


And dare to dance the tide... yes
Even when the situation seems impossible, to fight on and make progress


There's bound to be rough waters
The journey will not always be smooth sailing


And I know I'll take some falls
There will be setbacks and obstacles to overcome


But with the good Lord as my captain
The singer has faith in a higher power guiding them through hard times


I can make it through them all... yes
With this faith, the singer can overcome anything that comes their way


Yes, I will sail my vessel
The artist concludes with a final statement of their determination to keep moving forward


'Til the river runs dry
Until they reach the end of the journey or the end of their life




Writer(s): GARTH BROOKS, VICTORIA SHAW

Contributed by Jordyn D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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