Call of the River
Linda Perhacs Lyrics


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Come away, and follow me
She will call you from her winding
Come away, and follow me
She will call you, reminding
Come feel along your sides
The long cool touch of current
Like a far remembered life
Come quicken to the now you hear
Cutting off from closer years

Bounding into heavy pouring sound
Come quicken to the icy sting
Sharpening to everything
Pounding boundaries

Come away, and follow me
On a winding to the sea
Come away, and follow me
Unwinding to be free
And the call of the river
A man will answer cause he's thirsty
For a far remembered life
Of pulsing to a larger rhythm
Feeling things that now lie hidden
Clean and cold within
The liquid taste of leaf and rock
The timing to a slower clock
Yearning for dampened musty wood

Come away, and follow me
She will call you, she knows




Come away, and follow me
Come taste this life and grow

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Linda Perhacs's song "Call of the River" evoke a sense of natural beauty and reconnecting with one's primal self in the midst of a modern, urban world. The singer beckons the listener to join her and follow the river, a force of nature that reminds one of the long-forgotten rhythms of life. The river is personified as a "she," reminding the listener of the feminine energy of nature and our connection to it.


As the lyrics progress, the images become more sensory and vivid. The listener is urged to feel the "long cool touch of current" and to quicken to the sound and sting of the river. The river is said to pulse to a larger rhythm, reminding us that there is a natural order to things that we often forget in our busy lives. The river calls to the listener, reminding them of things that are now hidden but can be found again by following its winding path.


Throughout the song, the theme of yearning for a simpler, more natural life is present. The listener is encouraged to leave behind the busyness of modern life and follow the river to the sea, where they can unwind and be free. Ultimately, the song is about reconnecting with nature and finding a sense of peace and harmony in a world that can often feel chaotic and overwhelming.


Line by Line Meaning

Come away, and follow me
The singer invites the listener to leave everything behind and follow her.


She will call you from her winding
The river's flow and twists will create a calling that is hard to resist.


Come feel along your sides
The singer asks the listener to feel the current's long and cool touch on their body.


The long cool touch of current
The river's water provides a refreshing and calming sensation to the listener.


Like a far remembered life
The river's touch brings memories of a distant past that was full of life and vigor.


Come quicken to the now you hear
The listener is encouraged to wake up from their usual rhythm and engage fully with the present moment.


Cutting off from closer years
The singer asks the listener to cut off from their past and move forward towards new experiences and possibilities.


Bounding into heavy pouring sound
The river's sound is described as powerful and energizing.


Come quicken to the icy sting
The listener is invited to embrace the river's cold temperature and react strongly to it.


Sharpening to everything
The river's sting intensifies every sensation and emotion the listener is experiencing.


Pounding boundaries
The river's flow and energy can break through personal boundaries and limitations.


On a winding to the sea
The river is portrayed as a path that leads to vastness and freedom.


Unwinding to be free
The singer suggests that the listener will become free from their constraints by following the river's winding path.


A man will answer cause he's thirsty
The singer predicts that an individual in search of something more will respond to the river's call.


Of pulsing to a larger rhythm
The listener is encouraged to let go of their personal pace and move along with a greater and more natural rhythm.


Feeling things that now lie hidden
By connecting with nature and the river, one can get in touch with aspects of themselves that are usually unknown or buried.


Clean and cold within
The river's water is perceived as a cleansing and purifying element that can rejuvenate the listener's spirit.


The liquid taste of leaf and rock
The listener is urged to experience the river's taste, which encompasses the essence of its natural surroundings.


The timing to a slower clock
The river's flow is described as a different kind of time that enables the listener to disconnect from their usual notion of time.


Yearning for dampened musty wood
The artist suggests that the listener might crave for the smells of a more primitive and unspoiled natural environment.


She will call you, she knows
The river's power and wisdom are portrayed as feminine and intuitive.


Come taste this life and grow
The listener is invited to taste the river's flavor of life and growth and become part of its essence.




Contributed by Hailey J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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