River
Joni Mitchell and James Taylor Lyrics

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It's coming on Christmas
They're cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
But it don't snow here
It stays pretty green

I'm going to make a lot of money
Then I'm going to quit this crazy scene
I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I made my baby cry

He tried hard to help me
You know, he put me at ease
And he loved me so naughty
Made me weak in the knees
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I'm so hard to handle
I'm selfish and I'm sad
Now I've gone and lost the best baby
That I ever had
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
Oh I wish I had a river
I made my baby say goodbye

It's coming on Christmas
They're cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace

I wish I had a river
I could skate away on

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Joni Mitchell and James Taylor's song "River" tell a story of loneliness and longing for escape during the holiday season. The singer wishes for a river to skate away on, surrounded by the festive imagery of Christmas trees and reindeer. However, she laments that where she is, it doesn't snow and Christmas is not quite the same. She expresses her desire to make money and escape from her current situation, which she describes as crazy. Throughout the song, she reveals that she is difficult to handle and has lost the love of her life.

The line "I wish I had a river I could skate away on" is a metaphor for escape and freedom. The singer is feeling trapped by her circumstances and wishes to leave them behind. The mention of Christmas trees and reindeer creates a contrast to the singer's desire to escape, highlighting the juxtaposition of holiday cheer and her loneliness. The line "I'm so hard to handle, I'm selfish and I'm sad" shows her self-reflection and acceptance of her flaws, while also creating empathy from the listener.

Overall, "River" is a poignant reflection on the conflicting emotions of the holiday season and the universal desire for freedom and a fresh start.

Line by Line Meaning

It's coming on Christmas
The holiday season is approaching

They're cutting down trees
People are chopping down trees to decorate for Christmas

They're putting up reindeer
Reindeer decorations are being put up for the holiday season

And singing songs of joy and peace
There is a traditional sense of happiness and love during Christmas time

Oh I wish I had a river
The artist wishes they had a river to skate away on, possibly to escape the stress of the holiday season

I could skate away on
The singer desires to escape their current situation

But it don't snow here
The singer's current location is not conducive to ice skating because there is no snow

It stays pretty green
The artist's surroundings remain lush and green, rather than becoming a winter wonderland

I'm going to make a lot of money
The artist has plans to earn a substantial amount of money

Then I'm going to quit this crazy scene
The artist intends to escape their current lifestyle after gaining financial security

I wish I had a river so long
The singer desires a river that is long enough to allow them to escape their current situation for an extended period of time

I would teach my feet to fly
The artist would become so adept at ice skating on this river that it would feel like flying

I made my baby cry
The singer did something to upset their significant other

He tried hard to help me
The singer's partner made an effort to assist them

You know, he put me at ease
The singer's partner made them feel comfortable and safe

And he loved me so naughty
The artist's partner loved them in a playful and mischievous way

Made me weak in the knees
The artist's partner made them feel overwhelmed with emotion

I'm so hard to handle
The singer recognizes that they are a difficult person to deal with

I'm selfish and I'm sad
The singer acknowledges their own flaws, which may have contributed to their relationship troubles

Now I've gone and lost the best baby
The artist has lost the best partner they ever had

That I ever had
The artist is mourning the loss of their significant other

I made my baby say goodbye
The artist's behavior led to their partner ending the relationship

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Crazy Crow Music / Siquomb Music Publishing
Written by: JONI MITCHELL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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