The River
John A. Walker Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

There are master and slaves
We are sunlight and shadow
All roads to the river
I am lost, I am saved
I'm beloved and betrayed
All roads to the river

And the river runs wide

And the river runs deep
And I spit in the eye
Of safe company
When I dive right down
To the undertow
Well, the deeper I drown
Lord, the higher I'll go

I am whispering dreams
I am howling revolutions
All roads to the river
I am Valentine sweet
And I live in this nightmare
All roads to the river

And the river runs wide
The river runs deep (runs deep)
And I spit in the eye
Of safe company
When I dive right down (right down)
To the undertow (undertow)
Well, the deeper I drown
Lord, the higher I'll go

This is nothing like we planned
That's the way it's always been
All roads to the river
I have hated and I have loved
I have prayed and I have sinned
All roads to the river

And the river runs wide
And the river runs deep (and the river runs deep)
And I spit in the eye
Safe company
When I dive right down (right down)
To the undertow (undertow)

Well, the deeper I drown
Lord, the higher I'll go

Overall Meaning

The song "The River" by John A. Walker speaks about the dualities of life and the journey that one must take to truly understand oneself. The lyrics "There are masters and slaves, we are sunlight and shadow" convey the idea that there are always opposing forces in life, light and dark, good and bad, and that each person has the ability to embody both. The repetition of the phrase "All roads to the river" suggests that the river represents a path towards enlightenment or understanding, and that every experience and aspect of life ultimately leads towards it.

The metaphor of the river also appears in the chorus, where it is described as running wide and deep, and the singer states that the deeper they drown, the higher they will go. This suggests that the singer is willing to confront the darker aspects of life in order to transcend them and reach a higher understanding. The idea of spitting in the eye of safe company and diving down to the undertow suggests a rejection of societal norms and a willingness to explore the deeper, more taboo aspects of life.

The song is a contemplation of the human experience, acknowledging the duality and complexity of life, and encouraging the listener to embrace all aspects of themselves and their journey. It encourages the listener to not shy away from difficult experiences but to dive deeper in order to gain a greater understanding of oneself and the world.

Line by Line Meaning

There are master and slaves
There are those in power and those who are oppressed.

We are sunlight and shadow
We are both good and evil.

All roads to the river
All paths lead to the same fate.

I am lost, I am saved
I am both lost and found.

I'm beloved and betrayed
I am both loved and betrayed.

And the river runs wide
The river is vast and uncontainable.

And the river runs deep
The river is profound and unexplored.

And I spit in the eye Of safe company
I defy those who would hold me back.

When I dive right down To the undertow Well, the deeper I drown Lord, the higher I'll go
The more I risk, the greater the reward.

I am whispering dreams
I have lofty aspirations.

I am howling revolutions
I am fighting for change.