The River
Joe Bonamassa Lyrics

Down by the river
The singer is heavily emphasizing the location he is at, which happens to be near a river

That's where I broke down and cried
The river is so poignant that the singer recalls breaking down emotionally in its vicinity

That's where I lay down and died
The river is such a depressing force that the singer metaphorically 'died' when he was near it

Going down to the river
The singer is returning to the river again and again, drawn by its emotional significance

For as long as I can stand
The singer is strongly committed to staying at the river for as long as he is able to endure his emotions

Mama told me "Son,"
The singer's mother imparted some advice or wisdom to him before he went to the river

as she took a hold of my hand
The physical touch of the mother conveys the emotional bond between them

"Water runs so deep,
The mother is emphasizing that water, and by extension the river, can have deep emotional significance

Deep as all my pain,"
The mother is personalizing this insight by equating the depth of the water to her own emotional pain

Down by the river, honey
The singer is addressing an assumed audience member (likely a lover) with a term of endearment

Lord, can I be saved?
The singer is questioning the possibility of redemption, given the overwhelming pain he is feeling

Heartaches soaked in wine
The singer is using a vivid metaphor to describe his emotional state, combining both physical and emotional sensations

I'm just lookin' for redemption
The singer is expressing his yearning for a way to resolve his pain

For that wanderin' soul of mine
The singer is conveying a sense of being lost and uncertain about the direction he is headed in life

Pull me to my knees
The singer wants to be overcome by his emotions to the point of physical collapse

As I drown in the pouring rain
The singer is describing the river or the adjacent rain as so intense that it is all-encompassing, like drowning

I still see your face
The singer is thinking of someone (likely lost), whose memory is inextricably linked to the river and his emotional state

Sometimes around midnight
The singer is referencing the start of the new day, which can be interpreted as symbolic of his hope for a new beginning

They'd come knocking at my door
The singer is describing an ambiguous event, with the identity and purpose of the 'they' left unknown

Hell hounds found what they're looking for
The 'hell hounds' (presumably a metaphor for trouble) have been successful in their search - their goal is unclear, but may be malicious

Well those flashing lights told me
The singer is describing an event where emergency services are present, as indicated by the 'flashing lights'

Didn't have to say a word
The actions of the emergency services spoke for themselves, allowing the singer to understand what had happened without needing to be told

Someone took my baby
The singer has lost someone dear to them, possibly referring to a lover or child

Someone took away my world
The loss of the 'baby' has resulted in a feeling of losing everything, i.e. 'my world'

All they found was a letter
The authorities or emergency services have found a message or letter, suggesting that the person who has been lost has chosen to leave or end their life

I should never have let her go
The singer expresses regret over a decision that he made related to the person he has lost

The river's the only witness
The river is the only thing that has seen or experienced what has happened, and is thus an object of frustration or blame

The only one who knows
The river is described as having knowledge of the past, which is both haunting and accusatory

And the wind whispers her name
The wind is personified as whispering the name of the lost person, a haunting memory that reinforces the singer's pain

And all the lonesome years
The singer has endured a long period of loneliness since losing the person, and thinks back on this time with sadness

Water turns to whiskey
The singer is using another metaphor to describe how the river interacts with his emotions - this time the water changes into whiskey, which has different emotional overtones (associated with suffering and numbness)

I drown in my own tears
The river or other water imagery is depicted as so intense that the singer experiences a physical sensation of drowning in tears

I see my life in flames
The singer is describing his own life as on fire, a metaphor for intense passion or intense suffering

I call out your name
The singer is addressing the person he has lost, indicating that they continue to be a significant presence in his life