River
Kirsty Hawkshaw Lyrics


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River take me with you
To your destination
Catch my gaze
Distort my reflection
Paint my eyes
In waves of protection
I get bored of flowing
In straight lines
Tired of seeing the same signs
Gotta keep on moving
Keep clearing the way
The clouds that swell
When we drop like stones
Deep down. deep down
Upstream
Is the only life I know
And if I let go
Is it true tell me
There's a place tell me
Where all rivers interflow?
I get bored of flowing
In straight lines
Tired of seeing the same signs
Gotta keep on moving
Keep clearing the way
The clouds that swell




When we drop like stones
Deep down. deep down

Overall Meaning

In "River", Kirsty Hawkshaw is invoking the idea of taking a journey with the river; to live like a river, free and really immersed in life itself. In the first verse, the singer talks about asking the river to take her along to wherever it's going. She wants the river to help her forget about her own image, and instead paint her eyes with waves of protection. She is tired of flowing in straight lines, feeling bored and seeing the same signs along the way. The chorus, which is repeated twice, emphasizes the importance of moving forward, regardless of obstacles. When we make progress, we create new clouds which wait for us like stones until we drop past them.


In the second verse, she talks about upstream as the only life she knows, and imagines a mythical place where all the rivers interflow. That place represents a future, an ideal where all the progress ends up. The singer wants to keep clearing the way so she can ultimately reach that place. The song presents a beautiful metaphor of the journey of life via a river, whose sole intention is flowing onwards, unimpeded by anything, to reach its end. It's a beautiful and contemplative song that encourages the listener to keep moving forward in search of new experiences, rather than staying where they are and repeating everything ad nauseam.


Line by Line Meaning

River take me with you
Asking the river to take her to its end destination


To your destination
The end point of the river where it meets a bigger body of water


Catch my gaze
To grab her attention and hold it


Distort my reflection
The reflection on the water is not a true image of oneself due to the ripples caused by the water


Paint my eyes
Surround her vision with the beauty of the river


In waves of protection
Make her feel enclosed and safe in the river's embrace


I get bored of flowing
Tired of the monotony of life and the routine of flowing down the river


In straight lines
The path of least resistance that a river follows, without any deviation


Tired of seeing the same signs
The repetition of the same views and experiences along the river's path


Gotta keep on moving
The need to keep going and not stagnate


Keep clearing the way
Removing obstacles that might prevent her from reaching her destination


The clouds that swell
The buildup of conflict and tension as she travels down the river


When we drop like stones
The sudden moment of free fall or change in direction


Deep down. deep down
The underlying and overwhelming feeling within oneself


Upstream
Against the current of the river, towards the source


Is the only life I know
The path that is true to herself and the only way she knows how to live


And if I let go
The possibility of relinquishing control and allowing the river to carry her forward


Is it true tell me
The uncertainty of what lies ahead and the need for assurance


There's a place tell me
The hope for something better or different than what she has already experienced


Where all rivers interflow?
A place where all rivers merge and become one, symbolizing unity and harmony




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: KIRSTY HAWKSHAW, TOM GREENWOOD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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