The Drifter
H.T. Roberts Lyrics


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He looked to the skies and saw brightly coloured balloons drifting off into the distance
Each one the start of a journey, a shining soul striking out into the unknown
He too could have followed suit and taken flight with comrades
Following a path laid out by generations before him and generations to come
Yet here he stood
Eyes fixed on the rolling hills and reddening sky ahead
Prepared for an entirely different fate
Pack full and insides fluttering with anticipation
He strode forward and embraced his destiny
The mantle of drifter was his and his alone

The path is clear as in the reflection of the world on the water
So take to your path at once and persist until you are fulfilled
For there will be your truth
When the path is clear and everything is clear
Then the others see clear to think it clear
But when the destination is unclear, then it becomes clear in itself
As is the reflection on the water
The path is clear as in the reflection of the world on the water
So take to your path at once and persist until you are fulfilled
For there will be your truth

Fractured mountains
Clear crystal of the water
Snow drifts curling from the edge of cliffs
All this was his domain, left to explore and to discover what was then unknown
So overwhelming it almost felt holy, like a pillar of light piercing a heavy sky
The course was set and was his alone to navigate

The path is clear as in the reflection of the world on the water
So take to your path at once and persist until you are fulfilled
For there will be your truth
When the path is clear and everything is clear
Then the others see clear to think it clear
But when the destination is unclear, then it becomes clear in itself
As is the reflection on the water
The path is clear as in the reflection of the world on the water
So take to your path at once and persist until you are fulfilled
For there will be your truth




The path is clear as in the reflection of the world on the water
So take to your path at once

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to H.T. Roberts's song "The Drifter" exude a sense of adventure and self-discovery. The singer of the song is standing amidst a field of colorful balloons - each one representing a new journey, a new destination for a soul to strike out towards. While he too could have followed this path and taken flight with these comrades, he instead chooses to embrace his destiny as a drifter. As he looks out at the rolling hills and a reddening sky ahead, he prepares for a different fate - one that is entirely his own.


The lyrics encourage the listener to take to their path and persist until they are fulfilled, for that is where they will find their truth. The world is reflected in the water; the path is clear. When the destination is unclear, it becomes clear in itself - much like the reflection on the water. Through the fractured mountains, clear crystal water, and snow drifts curling from the edges of cliffs, the singer discovers his own domain, and everything he uncovers feels almost holy, like a pillar of light piercing a heavy sky.


Overall, "The Drifter" is a call to pursue one's individual journey and embrace the sense of adventure that comes with forging one's own path. It encourages listeners to find what is truly meaningful to them and chase after that, rather than following the more traditional paths laid out by generations before them.


Line by Line Meaning

He looked to the skies and saw brightly coloured balloons drifting off into the distance
Observing souls embarking on journeys towards unknown destinations, he too pondered his own path.


Each one the start of a journey, a shining soul striking out into the unknown
Every balloon symbolized a person beginning a new adventure, venturing into uncharted territory and facing the unknown.


He too could have followed suit and taken flight with comrades
He had the option to follow those who went before him and embark on celebrated paths with his peers.


Following a path laid out by generations before him and generations to come
He could have chosen to follow the footsteps of his predecessors, as well as those who will come after him.


Yet here he stood
Despite the aforementioned possibilities, he found himself stationary and unsure of what to do.


Eyes fixed on the rolling hills and reddening sky ahead
His gaze was fixed on the distant hills and the reddening sky in front of him, beckoning him to forge his own path.


Prepared for an entirely different fate
He was ready to embrace a unique destiny, different from what had been laid out for him by others.


Pack full and insides fluttering with anticipation
He was packed and ready to embark on his own journey, eagerly anticipating what lay ahead.


He strode forward and embraced his destiny
He moved forward with confidence, ready to embrace the destiny he had chosen for himself.


The mantle of drifter was his and his alone
He was the master of his own fate, taking on the mantle of a drifter and carving out his own path.


Fractured mountains
Undulating and unsettled mountains, denoting the challenges and obstacles he will face on his journey.


Clear crystal of the water
The pure and pristine water reflects the journey ahead, with possibilities as infinite and clear as the water surface.


Snow drifts curling from the edge of cliffs
The snow and the rocky cliffs represent the rugged and uncharted terrain, waiting for him to explore and conquer.


All this was his domain, left to explore and to discover what was then unknown
All the wonders and challenges of the world are there for him to explore, discover, and conquer, paving the way for new knowledge and discoveries.


So overwhelming it almost felt holy, like a pillar of light piercing a heavy sky
The journey ahead was daunting and massive, but the promise of new experiences and discoveries made it feel almost sacred in its importance.


The course was set and was his alone to navigate
He had a clear vision of what he wanted to achieve, and it was his responsibility to steer his journey according to his own will.


The path is clear as in the reflection of the world on the water
The path that leads to one's true destiny is as clear and reflective as the water's surface.


So take to your path at once and persist until you are fulfilled
One must start on the path to their destiny immediately and persevere until they have fulfilled their true potential.


For there will be your truth
One's truth will be revealed to them through their journey towards their destiny.


When the path is clear and everything is clear
When one has clarity about their path and their destiny, everything else in life becomes crystal clear.


Then the others see clear to think it clear
Others can see their purpose and vision as clearly as they can, giving them the confidence to pursue it.


But when the destination is unclear, then it becomes clear in itself
The destination may not be clear at the beginning of the journey, but as the journey progresses, the destination itself becomes clearer.




Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Samuel Roberts

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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