The River
Luke Wade and No Civilians Lyrics
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She said she had to move on
Even now looking back don’t know
How she got so strong so young
Said some people are like the river
Won’t be happy ‘till they meet the sea
And this young man’s the lance
Always lived my life in the future tense
Never been one for reminiscence
But now I see more behind me than I do ahead
Now this life feels like a crowded room
Seen from and empty bed
Now this life is like the river
Rollin’ to the sea
And this young man’s the lance
Running through the heart of me
Now this life is like the river
Rollin’ to the sea
And this young man’s the lance
Running through the heart of me
Always been one for flesh and bone
Never been one to call a house a home
But now I know wherever I end up
Is where I’m supposed to be
I used to call it lonely
But now I call it free
This young man’s the river
Down lookin’ for the sea
Windin’ through the land
Pushin’ from the heart of me
This young man’s the river
Down lookin’ for the sea
Windin’ on through the land
Pushin’ from the heart of everything
The song "The River" by Luke Wade and No Civilians is a reflection of life and the journey that comes with growing up. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a person who has strong character and resilience, and who has had to make some tough decisions in their life in order to move forward. The singer reflects on his past and reminisces on the people and things that have come and gone, as well as his own personal growth.
The opening lines of the song set the tone for a story of transformation; "With a face like stone, she said she had to move on". The power in these lyrics is in the depth of emotion it conveys, and the sense that the singer has gained wisdom beyond their years. The chorus is an apt metaphor that likens life to a river, always flowing towards the sea, and speaks to the idea that for some people, life is a continuous journey of discovery.
The theme of the song is one of self-realization and acceptance of one's place in the world. The singer reflects on his past and accepts that, just like a river, his life is full of twists and turns, ups and downs. Through this acceptance, he learns to appreciate the freedom that comes with moving forward without hesitation. The song's message is one of hope and acceptance, encouraging the listener to embrace the flow of life and not fight against it.
Line by Line Meaning
With a face like stone
She had a serious, unchanging expression on her face
She said she had to move on
She expressed a need to continue her life, despite any potential hardships and challenges.
Even now looking back don’t know
Reflecting on past events, but not sure how they shaped the present.
How she got so strong so young
Surprised by the strength she acquired at a young age
Said some people are like the river
Compares certain individuals to the constant and fluid nature of a river.
Won’t be happy ‘till they meet the sea
Those individuals won't be fulfilled until they reach their ultimate goal.
And this young man’s the lance
Referring to himself as a sharp weapon piercing through his emotions.
Running through the heart of me
Expressing how his emotions are piercing and overwhelming him.
Always lived my life in the future tense
He always planned for the future and anticipated what's to come.
Never been one for reminiscence
He never liked looking back or dwelling on the past.
But now I see more behind me than I do ahead
Reflecting on the fact that there's more in the past than the future.
Now this life feels like a crowded room
Referring to life as hectic, noisy and overwhelming.
Seen from and empty bed
His reflection on life is from the perspective of being alone and feeling empty.
Now this life is like the river
Comparing life to the constant flow of a river.
Rollin’ to the sea
Referring to the constant motion towards a goal.
Always been one for flesh and bone
Preferring physical experiences over emotional ones.
Never been one to call a house a home
Has never felt settled and content in one place.
But now I know wherever I end up
After reflecting on his past experiences, he's discovered that happiness can be found in any location.
Is where I’m supposed to be
He should trust in the path that led him to just be happy where he is.
I used to call it lonely
In the past he would perceive his solitude as loneliness.
But now I call it free
Currently embracing his alone time as a sense of freedom.
This young man’s the river
Referring to himself as a river.
Down lookin’ for the sea
Reflecting on his journey to find his ultimate goal.
Windin’ through the land
Describing the constant, never-ending journey towards that ultimate goal.
Pushin’ from the heart of me
His emotions driving his journey towards his ultimate goal.
Windin’ on through the land
Continuing the journey towards the ultimate goal.
Pushin’ from the heart of everything
His emotions driving the journey not only for himself, but for everyone involved.
Lyrics © ST MUSIC LLC
Written by: Lucas Anthony Wade, Jack Ray Robison
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind