River
Crowe Allison 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

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

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

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 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

The song "River" by Joni Mitchell is a melancholy ballad about longing for a simpler life free from the complexities of modern-day living, particularly during the Christmas season. The first verse sets the scene for a typical holiday season tradition – cutting down trees, putting up decorations, and singing joyous carols, however the singer seems to feel disassociated – wishing for an escape. She longs for a river to skate away on, which she could use to escape the commercialization of Christmas and the materialism that comes with it. She is envious of those living in a place where it snows and the colors outside are neutral, instead of being green year-round. The chorus repeats the same phrase once again, emphasizing the author's desire to escape and start anew. She hopes to teach her feet to fly like a bird, which would rid her of any emotional turmoil associated with the life she has.

The second verse delves into the singer's personal struggles and the problems she's brought into her own life. She admits to being hard to handle, selfish, and sad. She's lost the love of her life, and it's clear that she's hurting. She's reflecting on her own life and the choices she's made, and ultimately feels that the grass is greener elsewhere. She's trying to put her life in perspective and willing to give up everything for a simpler life. The final chorus emphasizes the wanting to escape a love that is lost and creates tension during the holiday season. The song poignantly captures feelings of wishing for a break from the chaos that can come with the holidays or life in general, and is an emotional piece that resonates with many listeners.

Line by Line Meaning

It's coming on Christmas
The holiday season is approaching

They're cutting down trees
People are chopping down trees to decorate their houses for the festive season

They're putting up reindeer
Decorating their homes with images of Santa Claus and his reindeer

And singing songs of joy and peace
Spreading happiness and celebrating the season with music

I wish I had a river
The singer desires an escape from her current emotional state

I could skate away on
A metaphorical image of leaving her troubles behind

But it don't snow here
The singer's reality does not match the idyllic scene described in the holiday season

It stays pretty green
The weather remains mild and green unlike the snowy winter landscape she desires

I'm going to make a lot of money
The singer believes financial success will solve her problems

Then I'm going to quit this crazy scene
She desires to leave behind the chaos of her life and start anew

I wish I had a river so long
The singer's desire to escape is amplified by the vastness of the river she is wishing for

I would teach my feet to fly
If given the opportunity to escape, the artist would feel free enough to fly

I made my baby cry
The singer's actions have hurt her loved one

He tried hard to help me
Her partner was supportive and caring

You know, he put me at ease
Her partner was able to relieve her anxiety

And he loved me so naughty
Her partner would tease her in an endearing way

Made me weak in the knees
Her partner had an emotional and physical impact on her

I'm so hard to handle
The singer is aware of her own difficult personality traits

I'm selfish and I'm sad
She is aware of what she is losing by pushing people away

Now I've gone and lost the best baby
The singer has lost the person who cared for her the most

That I ever had
The person she has lost was the best partner she's ever had

I made my baby say goodbye
The artist's actions caused her partner to end the relationship

It's coming on Christmas
The holiday season and her distress is recurring

They're cutting down trees
The holiday season activities are perpetual

They're putting up reindeer
The holiday season activities are perpetual

And singing songs of joy and peace
The holiday season activities are perpetual

I wish I had a river
The singer is still yearning to escape her troubles

I could skate away on
She still wishes for the ability to leave all her sadness and troubles behind

Lyrics © Crazy Crow Music / Siquomb Music Publishing, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Joni Mitchell

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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