Kate about 'Lord Of The Reedy River'
I've always wanted to do one of his songs because I've admired his music and his voice for years. I decided to do this song and through a coincidence it started happening. Someone asked me what I was doing for the B side while we were watching a Crystal Gayle show on TV. I was telling them I was going to do this Donovan song and all of a sudden Crystal Gayle said "...and now my very special guest is Donovan" and you know we hadn't seen him on TV for years and years. It was really like it was right. (...) And he came into the studio and did some backing vocals which is really great because I've always wanted to work with him. (Sally James, Almost Legendary Pop Interviews, cop. 1981. ISBN 090600828X
Lord of the Reedy River
Kate Bush Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Written by Donovan Leitch
I fell in love with a swan.
My eyes were filled with feathers,
He filled me with song,
In the reedy river,
In the reedy river.
I in my boat long hours,
He in his royal plumage--
I threw him some flowers,
In the reedy river,
In the reedy river.
Black was the night and starry.
I loosened off my garments
And let forth my hair,*
In the reedy river,
In the reedy river.
Sadly we mourned and sighed,
Whilst in evening twilight
Two swans glide and fly
In the reedy river,
In the reedy river,
("Two swans glide and fly")
In the reedy river.
("Two swans glide and fly")
I fell in love with a swan...
The lyrics of Kate Bush's "Lord of the Reedy River" is a mystical depiction of romantic love between the singer and a swan. The singer is enchanted by the swan's royal plumage and the song he sings. The title of the song "Lord of the Reedy River" suggests that the swan is the ruler of the river, hence his royal appearance. The singer spends long hours in a boat with the swan, throwing him flowers and enjoying his company.
The night is described as "black and starry" and the singer, overcome by the swan's charisma, loosens off her garments and lets her hair down, the ultimate expression of freedom, passion, and desire. The mood is set for a moment of consummation between the singer and the swan, but instead, they are left mourning and sighing while watching two swans fly by. This suggests that there is no resolution to their love story, and it is doomed to remain unfulfilled.
Overall, the lyrics of "Lord of the Reedy River" convey a sense of longing and unrequited love, however, its enigmatic imagery leaves the interpretation of the story open-ended.
Line by Line Meaning
I fell in love with a swan.
I fell in love with something beautiful and graceful.
My eyes were filled with feathers,
He filled me with song,
In the reedy river,
In the reedy river.
I was enchanted by the swan's appearance and its beautiful melodies while we were together in the reedy river.
I in my boat long hours,
He in his royal plumage--
I threw him some flowers,
In the reedy river,
In the reedy river.
We spent a lot of time together in the river, with me rowing my boat and admiring the swan's majestic appearance. I also showed my affection for him by throwing him flowers.
Black was the night and starry.
I loosened off my garments
And let forth my hair,*
In the reedy river,
In the reedy river.
I felt a sense of freedom and openness while we were together in the dark, starry night. I even let my hair down to symbolize this feeling.
Sadly we mourned and sighed,
Whilst in evening twilight
Two swans glide and fly
In the reedy river,
In the reedy river,
("Two swans glide and fly")
In the reedy river.
("Two swans glide and fly")
We felt sad and mournful during the twilight hours, as if we were witnessing our own end. We observed two other swans gliding and flying in the same river, pointing towards the cycle of life and death.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: DONOVAN LEITCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Eloísa García
I love when Kate goes gloom and eerie. No one does it like her
The Big Sign
Are you sure?
Eloísa García
@The Big Sign dead sure! there's no one like Kate!
Ryan Jerzak
@Eloísa García Mary Hopkin has the best version.
Eloísa García
@Ryan Jerzak I'd argue with you about not to impose your truth on me, but you just introduced me to a great artist.
I still like Kate's version better, tho, but I'm gratefull to you nonetheless.
Anne Frank Archive
For me, Kate's version is the best! Kate recorded her vocals for this beautiful song in a nearly empty pool in the studio basement.
TheWoodlandWitch350
Really suited to Kate's talent and soul ,if I hadn't been aware that it was a Donovan cover, I would have credited as one of Kate's mystical opus .
toonmunger
Never heard this before, it's damn good, wow.
Eloísa García
Donovan's version is like Pleasure Dome version, whilst Kate's is Dark Dimension version. I love them both!!!
Isla Watkins
This is beautiful, just as everything Kate sings.