Morlix moved to Texas in 1975 and initially performed with Blaze Foley, in both Austin and Houston. Moving to Los Angeles in 1981, he met up with Lucinda Williams, a fellow Texas-based musician who had also moved there. He became her accompanist for 11 years - from 1985 to 1996 - eventually leaving in frustration at the repeated delays in the release of Lucinda's album Car Wheels on a Gravel Road - the album being finally released in 1998. In 1990 he accompanied Warren Zevon on tour. He relocated back to Austin in 1991.
Since 2000 he has released the following solo albums:
Toad Of Titicaca (Catamount Records, 2000)
Fishin' in The Muddy (Catamount Records, 2002)
Cut 'N Shoot (Blue Corn Music, 2004)
Diamonds To Dust (Blue Corn Music, 2007)
Birth To Boneyard (Rootball, 2008) [an instrumental version of Diamonds To Dust]
Last Exit To Happyland (Rootball, 2009)
Blaze Foley's 113th Wet Dream (Rootball, 2011)
She's a River
Gurf Morlix Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like a melody you can't quite sing
Like a cloud going by
She's a whisper she's a tear in my eye
Like a drop of dew in the morning sun
Like a rumour she's on the run
Like a leaf dropping from a tree
She's a river and she's already gone
She's a river she's headed further on
Water seeks its level running to the sea
She's a river she's flowing away from me
Like a dream you can't recall
You're not sure who was there at all
It seems so clear now its fading fast
You watch the future become the past
She's a river and she's already gone
She's a river she's headed further on
Water seeks its level running to the sea
She's a river she's flowing away from me
Like a song floating in the sky
You gotta try to grab it as it passes by
If you don't catch it its lost in the wind
That one ain't coming round again
She's a river and she's already gone
She's a river she's headed further on
Water seeks its level running to the sea
She's a river she's flowing away from me
She's a river she's flowing away from me
The song "She's a River" by Gurf Morlix is a melancholic track that speaks of loss and the fleeting nature of life. The lyrics paint a picture of a woman who's like a river flowing away from the singer, and how he feels she's slipped out of his grasp. The opening lines that compare her to a bird on the wing and a melody you can't quite sing evoke a sense of beauty and mystery, highlighting her elusiveness. The lines, "She's a whisper she's a tear in my eye" and "Like a dream you can't recall" add to the enigmatic quality of her character, making her almost ethereal like a fleeting thought or a lost memory.
The metaphor of the river in the chorus is used effectively to represent the woman's unstoppable journey away from the singer, who feels he's losing her. The line, "Water seeks its level running to the sea" is a reminder that everything in life moves forward, and we can't hold onto things that are meant to leave. The poignant lyrics, "You watch the future become the past" show how loss is an inevitable part of life, and the singer's acceptance of this fact is a sign of his maturity.
In the final verse, the imagery of a song floating in the sky that needs to be caught before it's lost in the wind is a perfect metaphor for the woman's character. She's a fleeting moment in the singer's life, and he must try to hold onto her before she's gone forever. However, even with his best efforts, she's ultimately like the river, destined to flow away from him.
Line by Line Meaning
Like a bird on the wing
She moves with freedom and grace like a bird soaring through the sky
Like a melody you can't quite sing
Her beauty and complex nature can't easily be expressed in words
Like a cloud going by
Her presence is fleeting and transient, like a cloud passing overhead
She's a whisper she's a tear in my eye
Her essence is intangible and emotional, leaving a bittersweet impression
Like a drop of dew in the morning sun
Her brief moment of beauty is like the glistening dew that disappears with the rising sun
Like a rumour she's on the run
Her identity and intentions are elusive and difficult to pin down
Like a leaf dropping from a tree
Her departure from his life is natural and inevitable, like a leaf falling from a tree
She ain't fallin' she's flying free
Her departure represents her freedom and independence, not weakness or failure
She's a river and she's already gone
She moves with the flow of life, and has already moved on to her next journey
She's a river she's headed further on
Her path in life is constantly evolving and progressing, never stagnant
Water seeks its level running to the sea
Like water which seeks its own level, she is following her natural path towards her destiny
She's a river she's flowing away from me
Her departure is permanent and irreversible, she is moving away from him forever
Like a dream you can't recall
She felt so real and tangible, yet now seems distant and unreal, like a forgotten dream
You're not sure who was there at all
Her presence feels hazy and nebulous, like he can't quite grasp who she really was
It seems so clear now its fading fast
The memory of her is becoming increasingly vague and distant, fading into the past
You watch the future become the past
His present is slipping into the past with every passing moment, bringing him further from the memory of her
Like a song floating in the sky
The memory of her feels ethereal and fleeting, like a melody on the wind
You gotta try to grab it as it passes by
He wants to hold onto the memory of her, but it slips through his fingers like smoke
If you don't catch it its lost in the wind
The memory of her will disappear forever if he doesn't hold onto it tightly
She's a river she's flowing away from me
Her presence in his life has passed, and she is now moving further away from him with every passing moment
She's a river she's flowing away from me
Her departure from his life is like a river flowing steadily away from him, never to return
Contributed by Abigail D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Steve Tady
Absoflippinlutely fantastic. checking out more Gurf as we speak and will continue to seek Morlix. Terrific stuff. You go Gurf!
keitheeweithee
This guy shows such depth and honesty. It isn't always pretty, but one can relate,especially when life shows up. Gurf is my current favorite all around artist. He has sooo many sides to what he does, and more talent than you can shake a stick at!!
3dayrain
This guy is something else. One of my favorites. Just an awesome songwriter.
Craig Hensley
Exactly. Underrated isn't even a fair word because because it minimizes. Fabulous song writer. One of the best ever, in my opinion. I love his live stuff and his studio work is impeccable.
othercousin
Figured I should comment since I've listened to this several times..I love it. Great writing and a gut wrenching performance. Such a simple song and yet so good. bri
Leona Krivda
Just found you & LOVE everything I hear. GREAT songs!!!
Vitamin D Music
He's been around quite a bit little longer than Mr. Cleaves. Gurf has played with and produced a virtual who's who in the Americana music scene. He's produced some fine music.
Kim Dennis
Absolutely the best poet / musician I've ever heard. Why doesn't everybody know his stuff??
Glenn Muir
We do. Where have you been?
justcallmethelma
i love it! u made me love this artist a long time ago! could listen to him forever!