Down By The River
Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds Lyrics

The song "Down by the River" by Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds is a hauntingly beautiful tune with ambiguous lyrics that leave much to interpretation. At first listen, the song appears to be about a man trying to lure his lover away with promises of adventure and escape from the mundane. He is urging her to be on his side, promising to be on hers, and assuring her that there is no reason for her to hide. The chorus is less clear, seeming to overtly reference the notion of running away but also alluding to violent acts. The singer says that the woman could drag him over the rainbow, as in beyond the horizon and to a better place, and take him away down by the river- a place they can escape to together. However, he also confesses to having shot his lover down by the river, leaving her dead, which seems at odds with the rest of the song's message.

One interpretation of the song is that the singer is attempting to comfort his lover, who is feeling overwhelmed by sorrow and madness. He wants to take her away from all of that to a peaceful place by the river, where they can be together. However, he is also confessing to having committed a violent act against her in the past, implying that his intentions are not entirely pure or reliable. The ambiguity of the lyrics leaves much up to interpretation, leaving the listener to decide the true meaning of the song.