The River
Joanne Hogg & Frank van Essen Lyrics

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Here with you, my love
In a boat upon the river
The mist is rising now
Above the water dark
We're letting go of the ties
And we can move with the flow
And here with you, my love
I'll go wherever you go

We have watched this river
Flow for years together
Different moods and seasons
Through all kinds of weather

I've seen this river
Swell with the winter rains
I've seen it slow
With the springtime flow
In summer, it will get smooth as polished glass
And in autumn, it carries away
All the leaves on the blast
We have watched this river
Flow for years together
Different moods and seasons
Through all kinds of weather

We have watched this river
Flow for years together
Different moods and seasons
Through all kinds of weather
With my love here beside me
My home on a shore
In the presence of your beauty
I am longing for more

We have watched this river
Flow for years together
Different moods and seasons
Through all kinds of weather
We have watched this river
Flow for years together

Different moods and seasons
Through all kinds of weather

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "The River" by Joanne Hogg and Frank van Essen allude to a journey taken by two individuals in a boat upon a river. The mist enhances the mystery and allure of the river canal running dark, shrouded in ambiguous beauty. The vocalist then goes on to emphasize the freedom that comes with "letting go of the ties" and embracing the unpredictable and dynamic nature of the river. The lyrics represent an ode to nature, which serves as the center of the journey, with the river serving as a metaphor for life.

The lyrics continue to describe the duo's past experiences and how they have watched the river transform with the different seasons and moods. Through their time together as voyagers on this river of life, they have witnessed the overflowing of the river with winter rains, the slower springtime flow, the polished glass-like smoothness of the river during summer, and the leaves flowing away from autumn's gusts. Through it all, they have experienced different moods and seasons, just like the river they journey on.

In the last part of the lyrics, the vocalists express gratitude for the journey, stating that it has been a beautiful experience that has been rewarding, with the beauty of nature serving as a backdrop to their voyage, becoming their home on a shore, and igniting their longing for more.

Overall, "The River" is a beautiful song that celebrated nature as the defining center of life's journey, with the river representing the dynamic flow that leads us through different seasons and moods, symbolizing our journey through life.

Line by Line Meaning

Here with you, my love
I am with my love in a boat on this river

In a boat upon the river
We are in a boat sailing on the river

The mist is rising now
The fog is starting to form above the river

Above the water dark
The dark water of the river is obscured by the rising mist

We're letting go of the ties
We are releasing ourselves from all obligations and constraints

And we can move with the flow
We are now able to move with the current of the river

And here with you, my love
I am still with my love in the boat on the river

I'll go wherever you go
I am willing to go wherever my love takes me

We have watched this river
We have observed this river for a long time

Flow for years together
The river has been flowing for many years

Different moods and seasons
The river has different moods and looks depending on the season