Danny Wilde ', (June 3, 1956 in Maine, USA) is a founding member of The Rem… Read Full Bio ↴Danny Wilde ', (June 3, 1956 in Maine, USA) is a founding member of The Rembrandts.

Wilde is known for breezy California power pop through his records released in the 1980s and 90's. Catchy hooks and power chords were his hallmark. In the 1980s he landed two minor rock radio hits with "Isn't It Enough" and "Time Runs Wild".

The single "Time Runs Wild" was featured on the soundtrack to the film Dream a Little Dream.

Wilde was the founding member of the now-legendary power-pop band The Quick. Wilde then went on to form Great Buildings in 1981 and released an album. After the band's demise Danny Wilde pursued a solo career. His first solo release in 1986, The Boyfriend, was very successful for Wilde, garnishing 2 pop singles "Isn't It Enough" & "Body To Body". Wilde then released Any Man's Hunger in 1988. It featured popular tracks such as "Time Runs Wild" and "Wouldn't be the First Time", and reached #176 on the U.S. album charts, his only solo album to chart in the United States. The album had moderate success. Wilde followed it with the release of the self-titled album Danny Wilde in 1989. The album contained some of Wilde's most popular songs including "Cut from Stone", "The Long Way Home", and "We Don't Have To Say Goodbye".

But it was in the 1990s that Wilde found major commercial success, forming The Rembrandts with Phil Sōlem. The duo's two biggest hits were "Just The Way It Is Baby" and "I'll Be There for You" the theme from Friends.

Like A River
Danny Wilde Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

She's the restless one, with a windswept heart
If I could only touch her-If I could only hold her
Well she's the only one-I see her comin' and I fall apart
But she will never touch me-She will never hold me
And I would die to be with her tonight
BUT LIKE A RIVER, SHE RUNS WILD
LIKE A RIVER SHE WON'T BE TAMED
AND IN HER RIVER, I'M DROWNIN'

AND LIKE A FOOL, I LOVE IN VAIN
Though I try to keep her, she only leaves me cryin'
I see her walkin' down the street-I watch her walkin' down my street
There ain't no way that you can miss her-There ain't no way that you can win
Everybody tries to stake her out-Will I ever know what she's about?
I'd kill to be with her tonight
(CHORUS)
Like a river she pull me in-Like a river she drags me down
Though I try, but I just can't move-I wanna scream, but she won't let loose
No, she won't let loose
And now what am I-What am I-What am I gonna do?

What am I gonna do?
(CHORUS 2x)

Overall Meaning

The song "Like A River" by Danny Wilde features lyrics that tell the story of a man who is hopelessly in love with a woman who remains elusive and unattainable. The woman is described as restless, with a windswept heart, and despite the man's strong desire to be with her, she will never touch or hold him. The man sees her walking down the street, feeling powerless to resist her pull. He compares her to a wild river that cannot be tamed, and despite his efforts to keep her, she only leaves him crying. He laments that he is drowning in her river of love, unable to escape her grasp.

The chorus of the song repeats the metaphor of the river, with the man confessing that she pulls him in and drags him down like a strong current. He tries to fight it, but ultimately she won't let loose and he feels trapped. The song has a sense of longing, frustration and heartbreak, as the man realizes that he will never be able to be with the woman he loves.

Overall, "Like A River" is a poignant and relatable tale of unrequited love and the feeling of being swept away by someone who will never be ours. The metaphor of the river is a powerful one, as it emphasizes the sense of helplessness and lack of control that can come with being in love.

Line by Line Meaning

She's the restless one, with a windswept heart
She's a free spirit who can't be tied down.

If I could only touch her-If I could only hold her
He desperately wants to be with her physically.

Well she's the only one-I see her comin' and I fall apart
She's the only one he cares about and she has a powerful impact on him.

But she will never touch me-She will never hold me
She doesn't feel the same way he does and won't reciprocate his feelings.

And I would die to be with her tonight
He would do anything to be with her right now.

BUT LIKE A RIVER, SHE RUNS WILD
She's untamed and unpredictable, like a river.

LIKE A RIVER SHE WON'T BE TAMED
She won't be controlled or forced to do something against her will.

AND IN HER RIVER, I'M DROWNIN'
He's consumed and overwhelmed by his love for her.

AND LIKE A FOOL, I LOVE IN VAIN
He knows that his love is futile and won't be reciprocated, but he can't help his feelings.

Though I try to keep her, she only leaves me cryin'
Despite his efforts, she always ends up hurting him and leaving him upset.

I see her walkin' down the street-I watch her walkin' down my street
He can't help but watch her, even if he knows it's painful.

There ain't no way that you can miss her-There ain't no way that you can win
She's impossible to ignore, but it's also impossible for him to win her over.

Everybody tries to stake her out-Will I ever know what she's about?
Others are also intrigued by her, but he wonders if he'll ever truly understand her.

I'd kill to be with her tonight
He's so desperate to be with her that he would do anything, even resort to extreme measures.

Like a river she pull me in-Like a river she drags me down
He's drawn to her like a force of nature, but his feelings also bring him down.

Though I try, but I just can't move-I wanna scream, but she won't let loose
He's trapped by his love for her and can't seem to break free, even if he wants to.

No, she won't let loose
She won't let him go and keeps him trapped by his own feelings.

And now what am I-What am I-What am I gonna do?
He's lost and doesn't know how to move forward from his feelings.

What am I gonna do?
He's stuck and doesn't know how to break free from his emotions.

(CHORUS)

(CHORUS 2x)

Contributed by Sarah I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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