River
Matt Boylan-Smith Lyrics

I gave myself a river that had no flow
I created a life that lacked direction.

Not one that I could sail on down with ease
I had no clear path to follow.

They gifted me a sailboat with no escrow
I was given opportunities that were unreliable.

But what good is a sailboat without breeze
Without favorable conditions, opportunities are useless.

And when I reach the junction
When I arrive at a turning point in my life.

I will question every function
I will evaluate all aspects of my life.

Of all that I've acquired along the way
Everything I've gained on my journey thus far.

For aimless navigation
Without a clear direction to follow.

Through my own innovation
By relying on my own ideas and creativity.

Might be enough to lead my ship astray
I might end up going in the wrong direction.

I gave myself a mountain that had no peak
I set myself up with an unattainable goal.

A snowcap far above the atmosphere
A challenge that seemed insurmountable.

I made myself a promise to stand oblique
I committed to an unconventional approach.

So that the sky may never disappear
To maintain a perpetual sense of wonder and possibility.

The antiquated wisdom
Outdated advice.

Of my plantigraded system
The way I move through the world using my feet.

Suggests that I could tumble any time
There is always a risk of failure or falling.

But safety on the level
Playing it safe and staying on even ground.

Will deprive me of a bevel
Will prevent me from experiencing new perspectives and angles.

And no one sees the view without a climb
In order to achieve something, you must work for it.

Bells will chime
A sign of progress and accomplishment.

I'll row on down the river, my oars aflame
I will confidently move forward in my life.

Through vista points that no one's ever found
Discovering new opportunities and possibilities.

I'll scale that endless mountain and stake my claim
I will conquer my biggest challenges.

Halfway between the heavens and the ground
In a state of transcendence and accomplishment.

Ten thousand old explorers
The countless people who have come before me.

Premonish traps and horrors
Warn of the dangers and difficulties that lie ahead.

Through atlases on which they've spilled their stew
Through their stories and experiences passed down through history.

But closely if you listen
If you pay close attention.

You will hear their pupils glisten
You will perceive their sense of wonder and excitement.

And pray one day the raconteur is you
And hope that one day you will have your own stories to tell.

Yes you do
You have the potential to create your own journey and story.

You'll come across a river that has no flow
You may experience moments of stagnation and uncertainty in life.

As stagnant as a Jello reservoir
Life may feel stuck and unchanging.

And if you doubt the endpoint, just start to row
If you are unsure of what to do, start trying different things.

And suddenly but surely, there you are
Eventually, you will find your way.