River
Herbie Hancock feat. Joni Mitchell Lyrics

It's coming on Christmas
The holiday season is approaching

They're cutting down trees
People are cutting down trees for Christmas decoration

They're putting up reindeer
People are using reindeer decorations

And singing songs of joy and peace
People are celebrating with music that conveys positive emotions of happiness and tranquility

Oh, I wish I had a river
The artist is expressing a longing for an escape or getaway from her current life situation

I could skate away on
The river represents a possibility of freedom and the hope for a better life

But it don't snow here
The singer lives in an area without snow, which prevents her from being able to skate

It stays pretty green
The natural environment where the artist lives does not change much throughout the year

I'm going to make a lot of money
The artist has a plan of becoming financially successful

Then I'm going to quit this crazy scene
The artist wants to leave her current lifestyle behind

I wish I had a river so long
The singer desires a way out that will let her escape far away and from back to past lives

I would teach my feet to fly
The artist would love to be able to leave on her own accord, without any external aid, by obtaining a supernatural ability like flying

I made my baby cry
The singer did something to cause her partner to feel very emotional distress

He tried hard to help me
The partner did his best to be there for her

You know, he put me at ease
The partner was a calming presence for the singer

And he loved me so naughty
The partner loved the artist unconditionally, even with her flaws and unacceptable behavior

Made me weak in the knees
The partner had a powerful effect on the artist, both emotionally and physically

I'm so hard to handle
The singer acknowledges that she can be difficult to deal with at times

I'm selfish and I'm sad
The singer expresses her negative emotions and self-awareness of her shortcomings

Now I've gone and lost the best baby
The artist realizes that she has made a huge mistake in losing her partner who was the best thing to have ever happened to her

That I ever had
The artist recognizes the value and importance of her partner

I made my baby say goodbye
The artist's actions caused her partner to end the relationship

I wish I had a river
The singer is still longing for the freedom and escape that a river represents even if it means a life without her partner

I could skate away on
The artist still has hope for a better life beyond her current situation