Tickets To Waterfalls
Jack Bruce Lyrics


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I bought you tickets for the waterfalls
and you poured away all the change
Trained your bicycle to dance
told it tales of window boxes and people with locks
While you filed away the time
and lost the place in the river

Couldn't do anything about the days
But I helped with some of the nights
You worked my blisters to the bone
playing songs of tiny men and bridges in wine
While you led the time astray
and lost your head in the rainbow

You never saw anything glittering
but you had to melt it down
I made you rivers all run dry
soaked them up with train timetables and carpets of lies




And I listened to your smile
and found my place in the morning

Overall Meaning

The song "Tickets to Waterfalls" by Jack Bruce is a melancholic melody that deals with the emotional fallout after a failed relationship. The song's protagonist starts by remembering how he had bought tickets for his lover to see beautiful waterfalls, but she had wasted all the change. He tells how she taught her bicycle to dance and talked about window boxes and people with locks but still lost her way.


The singer then describes how he feels he couldn't do anything about the days but tried to help with the nights. He played music for her, but she worked his blisters to the bone with tales of tiny men and bridges in wine. The chorus describes how she never saw anything glittering and melted it down, and the singer made his rivers all run dry with train timetables and carpets of lies. However, he listens to her smile and finds his place in the morning, indicating a sliver of hope at the end of the song.


Line by Line Meaning

I bought you tickets for the waterfalls
I provided you with a means to experience the beauty and wonder of nature


and you poured away all the change
You wasted the valuable resources that were given to you


Trained your bicycle to dance
You infused object with personality and taught it to move to the rhythm of life


told it tales of window boxes and people with locks
You gave it a rich history and shared stories of urban landscapes and confinement


While you filed away the time
You spent your days waiting for a moment that may never come


and lost the place in the river
You lost track of your own journey and became disconnected from your true self


Couldn't do anything about the days
There were limitations that we could not overcome


But I helped with some of the nights
I provided comfort and support during times of darkness and uncertainty


You worked my blisters to the bone
You demanded too much of me and caused me pain


playing songs of tiny men and bridges in wine
You focused on trivial matters and failed to see the bigger picture


While you led the time astray
You allowed yourself to be distracted from what truly mattered


and lost your head in the rainbow
You became lost in your own fantasies and disregarded reality


You never saw anything glittering
You failed to recognize the beauty and value of the things in your life


but you had to melt it down
You destroyed the good things in your life and refused to appreciate them


I made you rivers all run dry
I took away the things that brought you joy and fulfillment


soaked them up with train timetables and carpets of lies
You filled the void with meaningless information and deceit


And I listened to your smile
I paid attention to your words and expressed emotions


and found my place in the morning
I discovered where I belonged and what truly mattered to me




Contributed by Christopher A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Neebin Makwah

My favorite song from this landmark album. Pioneer bassist, one of the best voices of any era.

FireWalkWithMe25

Jack was a genius. No question. And a risk taker.

Donald Mattia

This album is a beautiful departure from Cream,excellent Jack!RIP

A Saucerful of Secrets

I think this is one of the best songs Jack ever wrote. Never get tired of it !

John Prentice

A Saucerful of Secrets, I agree. This song is full of so many chord, rhythm, and mood changes that flow seamlessly from one to another. Full of musical surprises on the first listen. Then you're hooked and you want to hear it all again. Brilliant stuff. Great album as well.

Arthur F. Scaltrito

Saw him 3 times live. Glad I did.

david stoltz

I love this so much and the whole album!

Arthur F. Scaltrito

Have the vinyl version.
Always loved it.
Saw him live 3x's
Glad I did

245webster

Always loved this album...hard to believe its 50 years old......just played this track for my wife for the first time and she thought it sounded theatrical, like something from a Broadway show...interesting take...

Vernon R. Burger

OMG, I did not know.. RIP Jack. When we're all gathered by the River, that beautiful River of God, we can jam together.

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