River
Corinne Bailey Rae Lyrics


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It's coming on Christmas
They're cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on

But it don't snow here
It stays pretty green
I'm going to make a lot of money
Then I'm going to quit this crazy scene
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
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I made my baby cry

He tried hard to help me
You know, he put me at ease
And he 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
Oh I wish I had a river
I made my baby say goodbye

It's coming on Christmas
They're cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
I wish I had a river
I could skate away on

Overall Meaning

Corinne Bailey Rae's song "River" is a melancholic take on the festive season. The song opens with the mention of upcoming Christmas festivities and the traditional preparations that are underway. However, instead of feeling joyful and immersed in the holiday spirit, the song's protagonist expresses a sense of isolation and loneliness during this time. Rae expresses her longing for an escape from her current situation, wishing for a river that she could skate away on. The river represents a sense of freedom, a way to escape the confinement of her life.


Furthermore, the singer reflects on her personal relationships, specifically her lover, who has tried to help and support her. However, she ultimately acknowledges her shortcomings, including being "hard to handle" and "selfish and sad," ultimately leading to the loss of the person who loved her the most. The song's somber tone and the sense of regret that pervades its lyrics beautifully capture the feelings of longing and loss that many people experience during the holiday season.


Line by Line Meaning

It's coming on Christmas
The time of Christmas is approaching.


They're cutting down trees
People are cutting down trees for Christmas decoration purposes.


They're putting up reindeer
Families are setting up their decorations, including the use of reindeer figures.


And singing songs of joy and peace
Families are singing together to celebrate the holiday season.


Oh I wish I had a river
The artist desires a source of comfort and escape from their current situation.


I could skate away on
The singer wants to leave their current surroundings, with skating as a metaphor for escape.


But it don't snow here
The environment is not conducive to winter activities like skating because it does not snow.


It stays pretty green
The environment is lush and green, unlike a traditional winter landscape.


I'm going to make a lot of money
The artist has aspirations to make a lot of money to achieve their goals.


Then I'm going to quit this crazy scene
The artist dislikes their current situation and desires to make a change by leaving it.


I wish I had a river so long
The singer desires a substantial and lasting escape from their current life.


I would teach my feet to fly
The artist would have the freedom to metaphorically fly away from their problems with the assistance of the river.


I made my baby cry
The singer caused emotional harm to their loved one.


He tried hard to help me
The singer's partner made an effort to assist them.


You know, he put me at ease
The partner was a source of comfort and support for the singer.


And he loved me so naughty
The partner's love for the artist was playful, mischievous, and perhaps unconventional.


Made me weak in the knees
The artist's partner had a profound and all-encompassing effect on them.


I'm so hard to handle
The singer is difficult to please or manage.


I'm selfish and I'm sad
The singer is introspective and acknowledges their negative qualities.


Now I've gone and lost the best baby
The artist has lost their partner, whom they deemed to be the best they ever had.


That I ever had
The artist values their past relationship and regrets that it is now over.


I wish I had a river so long
The artist desires a river that would provide an extensive means of escape from their current heartbreak.


I made my baby say goodbye
The singer caused the end of their relationship with their partner.


It's coming on Christmas
The holiday season is approaching once again.


They're cutting down trees
People are once again cutting down trees for Christmas decorations.


They're putting up reindeer
Families are preparing their decorations for the holiday season.


And singing songs of joy and peace
People are joyfully celebrating the holidays.


I wish I had a river
The artist still desires an escape from their current situation and is longing for the peace that the river represents.


I could skate away on
The artist would like to use skating as a way of escaping their difficult and sad reality.




Lyrics © Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: Joni Mitchell

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@aimeefoster5216

Her voice sounds like a reincarnated legend of the past. Smooth, classic, and soulful.....

@abellady

Billie Holiday

@MarkWoodChannel

Find her Live from Abbey Road performance with Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Tal Wilkenfeld, and Vinnie Colaiuta, if it's not on YT it's on Hulu I think. While she is great here, that performance will be stuck in my head forever.

@jwd223

yep,,,,Billie Holiday

@cywoods60

YESSSSSSSSSSS

@cywoods60

@@jwd223 yes

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@zyxwut321

Colbert might not always get the highest ratings but his show will have the longest and most significant impact.

@GoldSag1

She has such a smooth classic sound! The type of sound that you sip tea close your eyes and escape the day to.

@blazinchalice

Echoes of BIllie Holliday here...very sweet

@kikivolauvent1

as beautifully expressed as this über-gifted duo ..... ;)

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