For the entirety of their recording career (1978-1992), Doug & The Slugs consisted of lead vocalist Doug Bennett, guitarists Rick Baker and John Burton, keyboardist Simon Kendall, bassist Steve Bosley and drummer John "Wally" Watson. Most of the Slugs left the band after 1992 (Kendall stayed until 1994); after this time, Bennett toured with an ever-rotating cast of new musicians, still billing the act as Doug & The Slugs.
River
Doug and the Slugs Lyrics
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It was a purple-purple sky and an orange-orange moon
And everyone was whistling the same damn tune
Except Brian, Brian staired out across the field
And watch the horizon blossom to cop a field
Over the edge of the world
The one they're all afraid to walk
Ration out the why they're so high on the small talk
To find the if's, and the and's and the but's and also's
Chorus:
If I could run through the woods, and speed like the light
I?d find the answers to why, and be back by tonight
If I could fly through the fog and look at this rock
I?d figure out how to keep Hell off of my block
But as it stands, I stay content
Tryin? to be the magic man, and pay my rent
Wishing that Brian would turn me on to the secrets he sought
While we keep burning the dawn, just to keep the day hot
[Verse 2 : Slug]
If I could ask you one question, I?d ask where you went
You could teach me a lesson every time I got bent
But the alcohol don't make me forget about it all
doesn't matter the season the leaves can still fall
They slipped hidden messages within the cards that were dealt
I understand myself and all of the sorrow I felt
For as simple as I'am how'd it get so complex
Got me studying the margins and disregarding the text
I open the curtins and listen to the traffic go
But I still get nervous each time my peace passes go
The residue is thick and the memory fails
I still laugh 'cause the path feels a lot like a trail
Chorus:
If I could run through the woods, and speed like the light
I?d find the answers to why, and be back by tonight
If I could fly through the fog and look at this rock
I?d figure out how to keep Hell off of my block
But as it stands, I stay content
Tryin? to be the magic man, and pay my rent
Wishing that Brian would turn me on to the secrets he sought
While we keep burning the dawn, just to keep the day hot
[Verse 3 : Slug]
We used to be a couple of pimps walking the hallways with pride
Drunk or sober, life was nothing short of rollercoaster rides
Trip to the clubs, now the skull to the rhythm
All we wanted out of life was what was given
And when you passed I wanted to take back the time we wasted
I'd trade all the buzzes in for one more conversation
We can sit in the shade and discuss the meaning of sacred
Cause I can't see the garden no more, just the avens
But the wind still blows and the plains still grow
And I wish your name was on the guest list at my shows
I got to believe you can see me run up on my freedom
Cause you got to meet up with the son before you got to meet my son
Bridge (x2):
And when I see lightning, feels like my buzz is heightning
Everytime I feel the sun, I can smell the love
And when I smell the air I can hear a child trying
But everytime I hear a river I think the mother is crying
The song "River" by Doug and the Slugs is a powerful reflection on the complexities of life and the search for meaning. The lyrics convey a sense of restlessness and yearning for answers to the profound questions about the world and our place in it. The opening verse sets the mood with its evocative imagery of a purple sky, an orange moon and the haunting melody that everyone around is whistling, except Brian. Brian is taking in the beauty of the horizon and the fields, looking beyond the mundanity of small talk, and searching for something more elusive, the secrets of life, the ifs, and the ands, and the buts, and also's.
The chorus expresses the desire to seek answers and find a way to keep the darkness at bay. The singer envisions running through the woods, speeding like light or flying through fog, and observing a rock to figure out how to keep "Hell" off his block. But instead, he stays content with trying to be the "magic man" and paying rent. He wishes Brian would share the secrets he's seeking while the two keep burning the dawn to keep the day hot.
In verse 2, the singer contemplates the complexity of life and trying to understand why he's still studying the margins and disregarding the text. He opens the curtains to listen to the traffic but still gets nervous. He reflects on hidden messages within the cards that were dealt and the sorrow he's felt. Despite it all, he still laughs, finding the path feels like a trail. The final verse speaks to the pain of regret and mourning the loss of someone close. The singer laments the lost time and missed conversations and wishes for one more chance to discuss the sacred meaning of life. The song ends on a poignant note, with the singer hearing a river and thinking that the mother is crying.
Line by Line Meaning
It was a purple-purple sky and an orange-orange moon
The sky and the moon had an unusual color
And everyone was whistling the same damn tune
Everyone was following the crowd
Except Brian, Brian staired out across the field
Brian was looking at the horizon
And watch the horizon blossom to cop a field
He watched the horizon bloom
Over the edge of the world
Beyond what most fear
The one they're all afraid to walk
The path that most fear taking
Ration out the why they're so high on the small talk
They talk without any purpose
But Brian knows where the crows all go
Brian has knowledge of things others don't
To find the if's, and the and's and the but's and also's
To find answers to complex questions
If I could run through the woods, and speed like the light
I desire quick answers to life's questions
I?d find the answers to why, and be back by tonight
I wish to find answers quickly
If I could fly through the fog and look at this rock
If I had supernatural powers
I?d figure out how to keep Hell off of my block
I'd figure out how to avoid pain
But as it stands, I stay content
I'm accepting of what I have
Tryin? to be the magic man, and pay my rent
I'm trying to make ends meet
Wishing that Brian would turn me on to the secrets he sought
I want to know what Brian knows
While we keep burning the dawn, just to keep the day hot
We continue to work hard to succeed
If I could ask you one question, I?d ask where you went
If I could ask one question to someone I lost
You could teach me a lesson every time I got bent
They always had something to say
But the alcohol don't make me forget about it all
Drinking doesn't help me forget
doesn't matter the season the leaves can still fall
Things can always go wrong
They slipped hidden messages within the cards that were dealt
Life has hidden messages
I understand myself and all of the sorrow I felt
I have come to understand myself and my pain
For as simple as I'am how'd it get so complex
Life is more complicated than it seems
Got me studying the margins and disregarding the text
I look for meaning in the smallest details
I open the curtins and listen to the traffic go
I look out the window to listen to the city
But I still get nervous each time my peace passes go
I still have anxiety
The residue is thick and the memory fails
Memories are hard to keep
I still laugh 'cause the path feels a lot like a trail
I still find humor in life despite its struggles
We used to be a couple of pimps walking the hallways with pride
We used to be confident and full of life
Drunk or sober, life was nothing short of rollercoaster rides
Life was exciting even without drinking
All we wanted out of life was what was given
We were satisfied with what we had
And when you passed I wanted to take back the time we wasted
I regret not spending more time with you
I'd trade all the buzzes in for one more conversation
I'd give up drinking to talk to you again
We can sit in the shade and discuss the meaning of sacred
We can have a deep conversation
Cause I can't see the garden no more, just the avens
I see the darkness of life, not the beauty
But the wind still blows and the plains still grow
Life goes on despite our struggles
And I wish your name was on the guest list at my shows
I wish you were still here to see me succeed
I got to believe you can see me run up on my freedom
I hope you're watching me succeed
Cause you got to meet up with the son before you got to meet my son
You met your maker before you got to meet my child
And when I see lightning, feels like my buzz is heightning
When I see lightning, I feel more alive
Everytime I feel the sun, I can smell the love
Sunlight makes me feel happy and loved
And when I smell the air I can hear a child trying
The smell of fresh air makes me feel young
But everytime I hear a river I think the mother is crying
The sound of a river makes me feel sad
Lyrics © Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: Joni Mitchell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind