River
Eminem Lyrics

I've been a liar, been a thief
I've done wrong things, been dishonest, and taken things that don't belong to me

Been a lover, been a cheat
I've been in relationships, but I've cheated on my partners

All my sins need holy water, feel it washing over me
I feel guilty and need to be forgiven for my past wrongdoings

Well, little one, I don't want to admit to something
I'm hesitant to confess to something because it could cause pain for others

If all it's gonna cause is pain
I don't want to hurt anyone more than I already have

Truth and my lies right now are falling like the rain
I'm finally being honest, but it's difficult and painful

So let the river run
I'm allowing my emotions and confession flow freely

He's comin' home with his neck scratched, to catch flack
He's coming home with evidence of cheating and is about to face the consequences

Sweat jackets and dress slacks, mismatched
He's trying to hide his infidelity with a mismatched outfit

On his breath's Jack, he's a sex addict
He's addicted to sex and alcohol

And she just wants to exact revenge and get back
She wants to get back at him for cheating and hurting her

It's a chess match, she's on his back like a jetpack
She's planning and strategizing to hurt him like a game of chess, and she's onto him like a backpack

She's kept track of all his Internet chats
She's been monitoring his internet activity and knows everything he's been up to

And guess who just happens to be movin' on to the next
And he's already moving on to his next partner

Actually, just shit on my last chick and she has what my ex lacks
He's talking about his new partner, who he prefers over his previous one because she has qualities his ex lacked

'Cause she loves danger, psychopath
His new partner is dangerous and has psychopathic tendencies

And you don't fuck with no man's girl, even I know that
Even though he's cheated before, he knows that it's wrong to get involved with another man's partner

But she's devised some plan to stab him in the back
His new partner is planning to hurt him like he hurt his previous partner

Knife in hand, says their relationship's hangin' by a strand
She's ready to cut ties with him and end their relationship

So she's been on the web lately
She's been using the internet to plan her revenge

Says maybe she'll be my Gwen Stacy, to spite her man
She's referencing Gwen Stacy from Spider-Man, who dies because of her relationship with Peter Parker; she's implying that she could cause him harm through their relationship

And I know she's using me to try to play him, I don't care
He knows he's being used, but he's willing to go along with it

Hi Suzanne, but I shoulda said "Bye Suzanne"
He greets Suzanne, the girl he cheated on, but regrets ever being involved with her

After the first night, but tonight I am
He regrets getting involved with her right after they first met

A one-night stand turned a two-night stand
Their casual relationship turned into something more serious

It was "come sunlight, scram," now we hug tight
Their relationship started out casual but now they cling to each other

And he found out, now she feels deserted and used
Her original partner found out about her infidelity, and now she feels abandoned and taken advantage of

'Cause he left, so what? He did it first to her too
He cheated on her first, so she doesn't feel as bad about cheating on him

Now how am I supposed to tell this girl that we're through?
He's struggling to end his new relationship

It's hard to find the words, I'm aloof, nervous, and Sue
He's having trouble expressing himself and his feelings to his new partner, named Sue

Don't want this to hurt, but what you deserve is the truth
He wants to be honest about his feelings but doesn't want to hurt her

Don't take it personal, I just can't say this in person to you
He doesn't want her to think it's about her, but he can't express it to her face

So I revert to the studio, like hole-in-the-wall diners
He retreats to writing music to deal with his emotions, like how some people go to diners to process their feelings

Don't have to be reserved in a booth
He can express himself freely in the recording booth

I just feel like the person who I'm turning into's
He feels like he's becoming someone he doesn't recognize

Irreversible, I preyed on you like it's church at the pew
He can't reverse the damage he's done, and compares his wrongdoing to preying on someone in church

And now that I got you I don't want you
He realizes he doesn't actually want to be with his new partner after all

Took advantage in my thirst to pursue
He was too focused on his own needs and desires to consider his partner's feelings

Why do I do this dirt that I do?
He questions why he keeps doing wrong things, despite knowing they're hurtful

Get on my soapbox and preach, my sermon and speech
He uses his music to preach about his experiences and emotions

Detergent and bleach is burnin' the wound
His confession is painful and cleaning the wound, like using detergent and bleach, makes it hurt even more

'Cause now with her in the womb
He got his new partner pregnant

We can't bring her in this world, shoulda knew
He realizes that he and his partner are not ready to be parents and should have taken precautions

To use protection 'fore I bit into your forbidden fruit (Fuck!)
He should have used protection before having sex with her, and is now dealing with the consequences

My name's (ooh), my name's (ooh)
He introduces himself with a vocoder effect

River (ooh), river run
He tells the river to run, allowing his confession to flow out

Call me (ooh), call me (ooh)
He repeats his introduction with a vocoder effect

River (ooh), we'll let the river run
He repeats his message to let the river run and his confession to flow out

Always the bridesmaid, never "The bride, hey!"
He's always involved in relationships but never seems to be the one who ends up truly happy

Fuck can I say? If life was a highway
He doesn't know what to say or do about his current situation

And deceit was an enclave, I'd be swerving in five lanes
If he had to navigate through lies and deception, he would struggle to stay on the right path

Speeds at a high rate, like I'm slidin' on ice, maybe
He's moving too fast and feels out of control, like he's sliding on ice

That's why I may have came at you sideways
That's why he may have approached her in a dishonest way

I can't keep my lies straight
He can't keep track of all the lies he's told

But I made you terminate my baby
He convinced her to have an abortion, which he regrets

This love triangle left us in a wreck, tangled
The complicated relationships he's been involved in have caused a lot of damage

What else can I say? It was fun for a while
He doesn't know what else to say about the situation, except that it was enjoyable at first

Bet I really woulda loved your smile
He's regretful that he didn't appreciate her more while they were together

Didn't really wanna abort, but fuck it
He didn't really want her to have an abortion, but went along with it anyway

What's one more lie, to tell our unborn child?
He considers lying to their unborn child about why they're not bringing them into the world

I've been a liar, been a thief
He repeats the first verse, emphasizing his past wrongdoings

All my sins need holy water, feel it washing over me
He repeats the chorus, emphasizing his need for forgiveness

Well, little one (I'm sorry)
He addresses the child he was just talking about, apologizing to them

I don't want to admit to something (I fucked up)
He doesn't want to confess to another mistake but knows he has to

The truth and my lies now are falling like the rain
He's finally being honest about everything, and it's pouring out of him like the rain

So let the river run
He repeats the final line, allowing his emotions and confession to flow out freely