Rising Sun
Erin Durant Lyrics
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Have you been out on the plains with the others?
I've been here, learning some rituals
Like how to truly love another
Been making mistakes, costing the game
But the only way I think
To be alone feels like a life of crime
A little afraid to write this down
To have been so loved, a true turtle dove
I′m going far, I'm going wide
I'm going back to the sunny side
There is a house in New Orleans
A California bungalow that I′ve never seen
It′s painted green, sits on Moss Street
And takes me someplace that I've never been
The future′s not mine to claim
Been calling out its name, but think I heard "no way"
I'm so tired and a little drunk
Just want you to hold me till my time is up
Take me to the river
Follow the water to the sea
This is the land of the rising sun
Don′t matter what you have done
There is a house in New Orleans
A California bungalow that I've never seen
It′s painted green, sits on Moss Street
And takes me someplace that I've never been
The future's not mine to claim
Been calling out its name, but think I heard "no way"
I′m so tired and a little drunk
Just want you to hold me till my time is up
"Rising Sun" by Erin Durant is a reflective, introspective song that explores the themes of love, learning, mistakes, and the uncertainty of the future. The song begins with Durant addressing the wind, a personification of nature, which she hasn't seen in years. She wonders if the wind has been out on the plains with the others, suggesting that the wind has its own life, its own journey. In contrast, Durant has been learning some rituals, like how to truly love another. She acknowledges making mistakes that have cost her the game, but she believes that the only way to learn is through experience. She values being loved, but she's also a little afraid of writing it down, perhaps because it makes it more real.
Durant then talks about a California bungalow on Moss Street in New Orleans, a place she's never seen but has heard about. The house is painted green and takes her someplace that she's never been before. It's unclear what significance the house holds for Durant, but it seems to symbolize a new adventure or a different path. She mentions that the future's not hers to claim, and she's been calling out its name, but she thinks she heard "no way." This could suggest that she feels uncertain about where her life is going or what her purpose is.
The chorus is a plea for comfort and a desire to escape. Durant wants to be taken to the river, to follow the water to the sea, to the land of the rising sun. She implies that no matter what one has done or where they've been, there's always a chance to start anew. The song ends with Durant wanting to be held until her time is up, implying a connection to mortality and the need for solace.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello wind, haven′t seen you in years
Addressing the wind, expressing not having seen it lately
Have you been out on the plains with the others?
Asking if the wind has been with others on the plains
I've been here, learning some rituals
Stating being there and learning some rituals
Like how to truly love another
Specifically, learning how to truly love another person
Been making mistakes, costing the game
Admitting to making mistakes that have consequences
But the only way I think
However, it's the only way she knows
To be alone feels like a life of crime
Describing how being alone feels like a terrible thing
But to fear the unknown is an uglier rhyme
Contrasting the fear of the unknown with being alone
A little afraid to write this down
Admitting to being afraid of something
To have been so loved, a true turtle dove
Being loved so much is described as being like a turtle dove
I′m going far, I'm going wide
Planning to go far and wide
I'm going back to the sunny side
Returning to a happy, good place
There is a house in New Orleans
Referring to a specific house in New Orleans
A California bungalow that I′ve never seen
Describing a specific type of house that the singer has never seen
It′s painted green, sits on Moss Street
Providing some detail about the house on Moss Street
And takes me someplace that I've never been
Suggesting that the idea of the house takes her to an unknown place
The future′s not mine to claim
Understanding that the future is not hers to control
Been calling out its name, but think I heard "no way"
Trying to call out to the future, but doubtfully hearing back
I'm so tired and a little drunk
Being tired and possibly intoxicated
Just want you to hold me till my time is up
Simply wanting to be held until time is up
Take me to the river
Expressing a desire to be taken to the river
Follow the water to the sea
Suggesting following the river water to the ocean
This is the land of the rising sun
Referring to the land where the sun rises (Japan)
Don′t matter what you have done
Suggesting that the past does not matter
Writer(s): Erin Durant
Contributed by Leo K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.