River Song
Claire Hamill Lyrics
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Watching people creeping home
River old and beautiful you listen
Do you know where they come from
Your currents flowing through their minds
But no-one sees the centuries it takes
To build the memories behind
As the sun begins to wake
And time has stopped to watch you gliding past
To waken your youthful body naked
You've watched the walls and concrete grow from bushes
In the twinkling of an eye
And in another twinkle you will watch them
You will watch them as they die.
Reflecting summer skies and hazy sunshine
Playing music through the reeds
A light orchestral silence greets your presence
While your happiness is freed
And your beauty spreads over about you
through the countryside
And softly greets the trees
And everywhere the morning sings a chorus
That is echoed by the breeze
Alone and yet majestically you travel
Painting pictures of the sky
And catching old reflections from around you
In the mirrors of your eye
River in the morning snatching sunlight
Weaving patterns in the day
You've lived a thousand centuries and still
Your beauty grows, it never fades
The lyrics of Claire Hamill's song "River Song" celebrate the timeless and enduring beauty of a river as it flows through various landscapes and witnesses the passage of time.
The first verse describes the river as a quiet listener, picking up the whispers of seagulls and observing people slowly making their way home. It asks the river if it knows where these people come from, suggesting that the river has a deep understanding of the human experience. The verse also mentions that the current of the river flows through people's minds, but this connection goes unnoticed as it takes centuries for memories to be built.
The second verse portrays the river gliding through cities in the early morning, as the sun rises and brings life to the surroundings. Time seems to stand still to watch the river's graceful movement, as if it is awakening the river's youthful and pure essence. The river witnesses the rapid development of walls and concrete, symbolizing the growth of human society and civilization. However, it also knows that these structures will eventually decay and perish.
The third verse describes the river reflecting the beauty of summer skies and casting a peaceful ambiance through the music played by the reeds. The river's presence brings a serene silence, and its beauty spreads throughout the countryside, touching the trees and being echoed by the morning breeze. The imagery here suggests that the river's influence extends far beyond its physical boundaries, and it brings a sense of harmony to its surroundings.
The final verse highlights the river's solitary yet majestic journey. It paints a metaphorical picture of the river as an artist, capturing the sky and reflecting the world around it in its mirrored eyes. The mention of living a thousand centuries implies the river's enduring nature and its ability to retain its beauty despite the passage of time. The closing line emphasizes that the river's beauty never fades, serving as a reminder of the eternal and ever-growing power of nature.
Line by Line Meaning
Picking up the whispers from the seagulls
Listening closely to the subtle messages hidden in nature
Watching people creeping home
Observing the humanity's journey through life
River old and beautiful you listen
Acknowledging the wisdom and grace of the river
Do you know where they come from
Questioning the origins and paths of individuals
Your currents flowing through their minds
Influencing the thoughts and emotions of people
But no-one sees the centuries it takes
Unnoticed passage of time and the accumulation of experiences
To build the memories behind
The gradual formation of collective memories
Sliding through the cities, early morning
Gracefully traversing urban landscapes at dawn
As the sun begins to wake
At the onset of a new day
And time has stopped to watch you gliding past
The river's presence captures a moment of stillness
To waken your youthful body naked
Invigorating the river's vibrant and untouched essence
You've watched the walls and concrete grow from bushes
Witnessing the transformation of nature into man-made structures
In the twinkling of an eye
In the blink of an eye, seemingly instantaneous
And in another twinkle you will watch them
Anticipating the eventual decay and destruction of those structures
You will watch them as they die.
Continuing to observe the cycle of creation and destruction
Reflecting summer skies and hazy sunshine
Mirroring the beauty of sunny summer days
Playing music through the reeds
Creating a soothing melody with the rustling reeds
A light orchestral silence greets your presence
The stillness of nature welcomes the river's arrival
While your happiness is freed
The river's joy is unleashed and shared
And your beauty spreads over about you
Radiating beauty throughout its surroundings
through the countryside
Across the picturesque rural landscapes
And softly greets the trees
Gently embracing and acknowledging the trees' existence
And everywhere the morning sings a chorus
The vibrant morning atmosphere harmoniously celebrates
That is echoed by the breeze
Echoed and carried by the gentle wind
Alone and yet majestically you travel
Embarking on a solitary but grand journey
Painting pictures of the sky
Creating vivid images of the celestial canvas
And catching old reflections from around you
Capturing the ancient reflections amidst its surroundings
In the mirrors of your eye
In the river's reflective surface, witnessing the past
River in the morning snatching sunlight
In the morning hours, seizing the golden rays
Weaving patterns in the day
Creating intricate and interconnected patterns within time
You've lived a thousand centuries and still
Existing for countless epochs, yet enduring
Your beauty grows, it never fades
The river's beauty perpetually flourishes and remains
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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