With the analogy of where the river meets the sea, this song talks about coming to the end of a journey and starting a new one by “going under” into the sea, looking towards the future and expressing hopes of how the narrator want to live his life at the beginning of the new era.
The song is the eighth track of the band’s 2017 album, Evolve.
Mouth of the River
Imagine Dragons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On the mouth of the river
Oh the mouth of the river
I want to live a life like that
Live the life of the faithful one
Wanna bow to the floor
With everybody else want to be someone
I don't want no enemies
It's the curse of a man
Always living life, living live, living just to please
On the mouth of the river
And the wrath of the giver
With the hands of a sinner
On the mouth of the river (woah)
On the mouth of the river (woah)
And the wrath of the giver (woah)
With the hands of a sinner (woah)
On the mouth of the river
Oh I'm alkaline
I'm always keeping the bases
I'm overboard
I'm self-destructive and self-important
And I'm anxious
Oh I'm self-assured
I'm nervous and I'm pacing, oh I'm pacing
On the mouth of the river
And the wrath of the giver
With the hands of a sinner
On the mouth of the river (woah)
On the mouth of the river (woah)
And the wrath of the giver (woah)
With the hands of a sinner (woah)
On the mouth of the river
On the mouth of the river
On the mouth of the river
And I am going under
Oh I am going under
I am going under
Oh I am going under
I am going under
Oh I
On the mouth of the river
And the wrath of the giver
With the hands of a sinner
On the mouth of the river (woah)
On the mouth of the river (woah)
And the wrath of the giver (woah)
With the hands of a sinner (woah)
On the mouth of the river
On the mouth of the river
On the mouth of the river
The song "The River" by Imagine Dragons is a moving and introspective ballad that explores themes of identity, self-doubt, and the complexities of the human experience. The repeated phrase "On the mouth of the river" represents the threshold between two states of being, with the river symbolizing both the physical and metaphorical journey through life. The opening lines "I want to live a life like that, live the life of the faithful one" speak to the desire to belong and find purpose in life, while the next lines "Wanna bow to the floor with everybody else want to be someone" suggests the struggle to balance individuality and conformity.
The chorus "And the wrath of the giver, with the hands of a sinner" conveys the internal conflict between doing good and making mistakes, and the fear of being judged for one's imperfections. The verses delve deeper into the emotional turmoil that comes with trying to navigate life. The lines "Oh I'm alkaline, I'm always keeping the bases, I'm overboard, I'm self-destructive and self-important" convey the struggle to maintain balance and control over one's emotions and actions. The final repetition of "I am going under" suggests a sense of hopelessness and despair, perhaps indicating that the singer is drowning in their own struggles.
Overall, "The River" is a powerful and emotive song that speaks to the universal human experience of struggle, doubt, and the search for purpose and meaning in life.
Line by Line Meaning
On the mouth of the river
At the mouth of the river, where the river meets the sea or another body of water.
On the mouth of the river
Re-emphasizing the location and importance of the river's mouth.
Oh the mouth of the river
Another repetition of the importance of the river's mouth.
I want to live a life like that
I aspire to live a life with purpose and meaning.
Live the life of the faithful one
A life devoted to faith and spirituality.
Wanna bow to the floor
A sign of humility and reverence towards a higher power.
With everybody else want to be someone
Desire to stand out and be recognized among others.
I want to make some love
Desire to create positive and loving relationships with others.
I don't want no enemies
A desire for peace and harmony in life.
It's the curse of a man
A recognition of the difficulties and challenges faced by all humans.
Always living life, living live, living just to please
The pressure to constantly please others and meet their expectations can dominate one's life.
And the wrath of the giver
Fear of the consequences of accepting help or gifts from others.
With the hands of a sinner
Acknowledgement of personal flaws and mistakes.
Oh I'm alkaline
Feeling balanced and healthy, both physically and mentally.
I'm always keeping the bases
A reference to maintaining proper pH levels to stay alkaline.
I'm overboard
Experiencing an overwhelming amount of emotions or thoughts.
I'm self-destructive and self-important
Simultaneously hurting oneself and seeking validation or attention from others.
And I'm anxious
Feeling worried or uneasy about the future or present circumstances.
Oh I'm self-assured
Feeling confident in oneself and one's abilities.
I'm nervous and I'm pacing, oh I'm pacing
Feeling restless and anxious, perhaps due to stress or anticipation.
And I am going under
Facing an overwhelming situation or challenge.
Oh I am going under
Reiterating that the situation is dire and potentially dangerous.
On the mouth of the river
Returning to the symbolic location of the river's mouth with renewed emphasis.
And the wrath of the giver
Repeating the fear of accepting help or kindness from others.
With the hands of a sinner
Acknowledging one's own imperfections and faults.
On the mouth of the river (woah)
Re-emphasizing the importance and weight of the river's mouth through a musical interjection.
On the mouth of the river (woah)
Repeatedly drawing attention to the river's mouth through music.
And the wrath of the giver (woah)
Repeating and paralleling the previous line's phrase structure and meaning.
With the hands of a sinner (woah)
Similarly repeating the previous line's phrase structure and meaning.
On the mouth of the river
Concluding the lyrics with one more reminder of the river's significance.
On the mouth of the river
Ending with a final repetition of the same phrase for emphasis and impact.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Benjamin Arthur McKee, Daniel Coulter Reynolds, Daniel James Platzman, Daniel Wayne Sermon, Timothy Edgar, Timothy Randolph
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
lazy
on Believer
same
hi
on Natural
hi
Ariel Pimentel
on Radioactive
breezy music