Waterbound
Iron Mountain String Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I have to stay till morning
Bill and Charlie lets go home
Before the water rises
The water's up and I can't get across
I'll ride the old white horse
The old man's mad but I don't care
Just so I get his daughter
If he don't give her up I'm a-gonna run away
Down in North Carolina
Waterbound and I can't go home
Down in North Carolina
The Iron Mountain String Band's song "Waterbound" is a sorrowful and melancholic song that speaks of the singer's inability to leave a particular place due to rising water levels. The lyrics suggest that the singer is stuck in this place until morning, as the water has made it impossible for them to leave. The sense of urgency and despair is evident throughout the song. The chorus of the song repeats the line "Waterbound and I can't go home," emphasizing the singer's predicament.
The second verse of the song introduces two characters named Bill and Charlie who want to leave the place, but the singer is unable to due to the rising water levels. The singer then sings about his plan to ride an "old white horse" to cross the water, despite the horse's reluctance. The third verse speaks of the singer's desire for a girl who belongs to an old man who is mad at him. The singer plans to run away with her if the old man doesn't give her up.
The lyrics to the Iron Mountain String Band's song "Waterbound" speak of a sense of loss, desperation and unfulfilled desires. The song paints a vivid picture of a rural landscape where the whims of nature determine the course of human lives. The song's lamentations are those of someone who is trapped and cannot escape their situation, leading them to take extreme measures to fulfill their desires.
Line by Line Meaning
Waterbound and I can't go home
I am stuck here because of the flooded water and I cannot go back home.
I have to stay till morning
I must remain here until the morning comes.
Bill and Charlie lets go home
Bill and Charlie, we need to leave and head for home.
Before the water rises
We need to leave promptly, before the water level increases.
The water's up and I can't get across
The water level has risen and I cannot cross it.
I'll ride the old white horse
To get across the water, I will ride the old white horse.
The old man's mad but I don't care
The old man is angry, but I am indifferent to his emotions.
Just so I get his daughter
I am willing to deal with the old man's anger if it means I can have his daughter.
If he don't give her up I'm a-gonna run away
If the old man does not consent to give me his daughter, I will flee from this place.
Down in North Carolina
All of this is occurring in the southern state of North Carolina.
Contributed by Eva O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.