Bridge Washed Out
Marty Stuart Lyrics


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Well the bridge washed out and I can't swim
And my baby's on the other side
When I awoke this mornin'n, the rain was a-pourin' down
I was gonna wed the little river girl just over the bridge across town
I'm runnin' up and down the river and my nerves are drivin' me wild
'Cause the bridge washed out and I can't swim
And my baby's one the other side
[Chorus:]
Oh rain oh rain stop fallin', dark clouds hurry from the sky
The preacher and my bride's a-waitin' and the weddin' bells are startin' to chine
Well I can't kiss and hold her, and it's drivin' me outta my mind
'Cause the bridge washed out and I can't swim
And my baby's on the other side
Yeah I got one foot in the water, one foot solid on the ground
Well I'd try to swim that ragin' old river, but I know if I try I'd drown
There's not one boat around me, they've all gone out with the tide
And my baby's on the other side, yeah
[Chorus:]
Oh rain oh rain stop fallin', dark clouds hurry from the sky
The preacher and my bride's a-waitin' and the weddin' bells are startin' to chine
Well I can't kiss and hold her, and it's drivin' me outta my mind
'Cause the bridge washed out and I can't swim
And my baby's on the other side




Yeah the bridge washed out and I can't swim
And my baby's on the other side

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Marty Stuart's song "Bridge Washed Out" describe the despair and frustration of a man who had planned to marry his sweetheart but is now unable to cross the river due to a washed-out bridge. The opening lines of the song establish the urgency of the situation, as the singer can't swim and his beloved is on the other side of the flooded river. The rain serves as a metaphor for the singer's emotional state, as it adds to his sense of hopelessness and anxiety.


Throughout the song, the singer's desperation is palpable, as he runs up and down the riverbank, searching for a way to cross. The chorus of the song finds him pleading with the rain to stop falling, as he realizes that he may not be able to make it to his wedding. The singer's desperation is compounded by his inability to kiss and hold his sweetheart, which is driving him "outta his mind." The final verse offers a glimmer of hope, as the singer briefly considers attempting to swim the raging river, but ultimately decides against it, knowing that he will surely drown.


Overall, "Bridge Washed Out" is a poignant song that captures the overwhelming sense of helplessness, uncertainty, and loss that often accompanies events beyond our control.


Line by Line Meaning

Well the bridge washed out and I can't swim
The bridge was destroyed by the flood and I'm unable to swim across the river


And my baby's on the other side
My lover is stranded on the other side of the river


When I awoke this mornin'n, the rain was a-pourin' down
I woke up to a heavy downpour of rain


I was gonna wed the little river girl just over the bridge across town
I was planning to marry a girl who lived on the other side of the river


I'm runnin' up and down the river and my nerves are drivin' me wild
I'm frantically searching for a way to cross the river and my anxiety is overwhelming


'Cause the bridge washed out and I can't swim And my baby's one the other side
The bridge is gone and I can't swim across the river, leaving my lover on the other side


Oh rain oh rain stop fallin', dark clouds hurry from the sky
I'm pleading with the rain to stop and the clouds to clear up so that I can cross the river


The preacher and my bride's a-waitin' and the weddin' bells are startin' to chine
The minister and my fiancee are waiting for me to arrive so that we can exchange vows


Well I can't kiss and hold her, and it's drivin' me outta my mind
I'm unable to embrace and show affection to my lover, causing me extreme mental distress


'Cause the bridge washed out and I can't swim And my baby's on the other side
The destruction of the bridge prevents me from crossing the river and reuniting with my beloved


Yeah I got one foot in the water, one foot solid on the ground
I'm standing on the riverbank with one foot dipped in the water and the other firmly planted on the ground


Well I'd try to swim that ragin' old river, but I know if I try I'd drown
I'm afraid to attempt swimming across the turbulent river because I'm not a strong swimmer and may not survive


There's not one boat around me, they've all gone out with the tide
There are no boats available to transport me across the river because they have all been taken away by the receding tide


And my baby's on the other side, yeah
My lover is stranded on the opposite bank of the river


Yeah the bridge washed out and I can't swim And my baby's on the other side
The flood destroyed the bridge, preventing me from swimming across the river to be with my lover




Contributed by Colin N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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