River
F.M.K.D. Lyrics

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It's coming on Christmas
They're cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
But it don't snow here
It stays pretty green

I'm going to make a lot of money
Then I'm going to quit this crazy scene
I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly

I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I made my baby cry
He tried hard to help me
You know, he put me at ease
And he loved me so naughty
Made me weak in the knees
I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I'm so hard to handle
I'm selfish and I'm sad
Now I've gone and lost the best baby
That I ever had
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly

Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I made my baby say goodbye

It's coming on Christmas
They're cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace

I wish I had a river
I could skate away on

Overall Meaning

The first stanza of F.M.K.D.'s song "River" uses Christmas imagery to express the singer's sense of isolation and longing. While others are preparing for holiday festivities, the singer wishes for a river to skate away on. The use of the word "wish" twice in this stanza emphasizes the singer's desire for escape. The singer wishes for a change of scenery, as they describe their surroundings as "pretty green" instead of blanketed in snow. The final two lines in this stanza suggest that the singer is trapped in a job or situation they wish to quit, but they need to make money first. This sense of being trapped is further emphasized by the repetition of "I wish I had a river/I could skate away on."

The second stanza shifts focus to the singer's personal relationships. They describe making their partner cry and being difficult to handle. The line "he loved me so naughty/made me weak in the knees" suggests that the singer's partner was attracted to their unruliness, but that they were ultimately unable to sustain the relationship. The final two lines repeat the theme of the first stanza, with the singer wishing for a river to escape on.

Overall, "River" is a song about longing and the search for escape. The singer feels trapped in their job and relationships, and is unable to find peace in the holiday season. The use of Christmas imagery highlights the contrast between the singer's internal feelings and the external world around them.

Line by Line Meaning

It's coming on Christmas
The holiday season is fast approaching

They're cutting down trees
The tradition of cutting down trees for Christmas decorations is happening

They're putting up reindeer
Decorations and symbols of the holiday season are being displayed

And singing songs of joy and peace
There is a sense of happiness and tranquility during this time

I wish I had a river
The singer desires an escape from their current situation

I could skate away on
The river represents a way to leave and find freedom

But it don't snow here
The environment is not conducive to the singer's desire for escape

It stays pretty green
The place lacks the natural elements that could aid the singer's escape

I'm going to make a lot of money
The singer is hoping to acquire wealth

Then I'm going to quit this crazy scene
The singer wants to leave their current situation once they have the means

I wish I had a river so long
The desire for an escape is strong

I would teach my feet to fly
The singer feels trapped and desires a sense of liberation

I made my baby cry
The singer has caused emotional pain to their loved one

He tried hard to help me
The loved one has made efforts to support the singer

You know, he put me at ease
The loved one has brought the singer comfort

And he loved me so naughty
The loved one has accepted the singer's flaws and quirks

Made me weak in the knees
The loved one has had a strong physical and emotional effect on the singer

I'm so hard to handle
The singer acknowledges their own difficult personality

I'm selfish and I'm sad
The singer recognizes their own negative traits and emotions

Now I've gone and lost the best baby
The singer has lost their loved one, whom they now see as the best they've had

That I ever had
Further emphasis on the loss of the loved one

Oh I wish I had a river
The desire to escape and find peace is still strong

I could skate away on
The river still represents that escape

I made my baby say goodbye
The singer's actions have caused their loved one to leave them

And singing songs of joy and peace
Despite the singer's troubles, the holiday season is still happening around them

I wish I had a river
Reiterating the desire to escape and find peace

I could skate away on
The river is still the symbol of the escape the singer desires

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Crazy Crow Music / Siquomb Music Publishing
Written by: Joni Mitchell

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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