Down By The River
Luciana Zogbi Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Down by the river where the angels and the devil meet
Where endings come to meet beginnings and pay Charon′s fee
Ten thousand years you've roamed alone
While drunken prophets on the way stopped you to say

By the way
All that′s in the Milky Way
By the way
All the oceans are for you
The moon for you

Down by the river thirsty sailor's kisses line the shore
Where mermaids come to hear the sweet lies of troubadours
Ten thousand years you've roamed alone
While drunken prophets on the way stopped you to say

By the way
All that′s in the Milky Way
By the way
All the oceans are for you
The moon for you, for you
The moon for you





Down by the river where the angels and the devil meet

Overall Meaning

In Luciana Zogbi's song "Down by the River," the opening lines describe a location where the opposing forces of angels and devils converge. This place is where endings and beginnings coincide, and those who seek passage must pay the ferryman, alluding to the ancient Greek myth of the river Styx. The singer of the song has roamed this area for ten thousand years, seemingly searching for something. Along the way, they have encountered prophets who have stopped them to impart their wisdom. The lyrics suggest that the singer has been searching for a sense of purpose or meaning, and despite wandering for so long, they remain alone.


The next verse describes a scene of sailors and mermaids, where the singer has perhaps found some companionship. The sailors' kisses suggest a fleeting intimacy, while the mermaids listen to the sweet lies of the troubadours. The image is one of transience, where people come and go, leaving the singer still searching for something more.


The repeated lines "By the way, All that's in the Milky Way, All the oceans are for you, The moon for you" could be interpreted as the prophets' message, encouraging the singer to recognize the vastness of the universe and the potential for discovery. However, they may also be a reminder that despite this vastness, the singer is still alone.


Line by Line Meaning

Down by the river where the angels and the devil meet
Where opposing forces come together at the riverbank


Where endings come to meet beginnings and pay Charon's fee
Where the transition between life and death occurs and Charon is paid to ferry souls across


Ten thousand years you've roamed alone
You have spent millennia wandering the earth by yourself


While drunken prophets on the way stopped you to say
Along the way, intoxicated oracles have approached you with messages


All that's in the Milky Way
Everything in the galaxy


All the oceans are for you
You have complete ownership over the vast bodies of water on earth


The moon for you, for you
The celestial body that reflects the sun's light at night is also under your dominion


Down by the river thirsty sailor's kisses line the shore
Sailors in need of water and affection leave their marks on the riverbank


Where mermaids come to hear the sweet lies of troubadours
The enchanted sea creatures are attracted to the enticing words of bards




Writer(s): Luciana Zogbi

Contributed by Olivia K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions