River
Menzel Idina Lyrics
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They're cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
Oh I wish I had a river I could skate away on
But it don't snow here
It stays pretty green
Then I'm going to quit this crazy scene
Oh I wish I had a river I could skate away on
I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
Oh I wish I had a river I could skate away on
I made my baby cry, yeah
He tried hard to help me
He put me at ease
And he loved me so naughty
Made me weak in the knees
Oh I wish I had a river I could skate away on
I'm so hard to handle
I'm selfish and I'm sad
Now I've gone and lost the best baby
That I ever had
Oh I wish I had a river I could skate away on
Oh I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to, to fly
Oh I wish I had a river I could skate away on
I made my baby say goodbye, say goodbye
Say goodbye
It's coming on Christmas
They're cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer
Singing songs of joy and peace
Oh I, I wish I had a river I could skate away on.
Yeah I wish I had a river I could skate away on and on
And on, and on
The lyrics of "River" by Idina Menzel are a reflection on the realities of the holiday season and one's own personal struggles. The opening lines set the tone for the song with the arrival of the holiday season as the singer witnesses the preparation for Christmas. Despite the joyous atmosphere surrounding her, she feels the urge to escape and expresses a desire for a river she could skate away on. The wish for a river symbolizes someone wanting to escape his/her troubles and flee from the pressures of life. The singer yearns to leave everything that is familiar behind to find peace and solace.
In the second verse, the singer reveals her personal struggles, admitting that she is "hard to handle," "selfish," and "sad." She longs for a river long enough to teach her feet to fly, a metaphor for the freedom to escape from the pain she is feeling. In the final verse, the singer narrates how she has lost the best baby she ever had and expresses regret for making her baby cry. The song ends with the repetition of the opening lines, expressing the singer's continued desire to find an escape from her troubles.
All in all, the lyrics of "River" describe the melancholic state of a person who feels stuck and overwhelmed in life and yearns for an escape. The song is an ode to the pain and pressure that can accompany the holiday season, as well as a broader commentary on the struggle for personal freedom.
Line by Line Meaning
It's coming on Christmas
The festive season is almost here
They're cutting down trees
People are busy preparing for Christmas by cutting down trees for decoration
They're putting up reindeer
People are putting up decorative items like reindeer which are associated with Christmas celebrations
And singing songs of joy and peace
People are singing happy and peaceful songs in the spirit of Christmas
Oh I wish I had a river I could skate away on
The singer is feeling sad and overwhelmed with the Christmas preparations and wishes to escape
But it don't snow here
The place where the singer lives doesn't snow
It stays pretty green
Instead of snow, the place stays green during the winter season
I'm going to make a lot of money
The singer plans to make money to escape her problems
Then I'm going to quit this crazy scene
She wants to leave her current situation which is causing her distress
I wish I had a river so long
The singer wishes for a peaceful and serene escape from her problems
I would teach my feet to fly
The singer wishes for a way to escape so that she can feel free like she is flying
I made my baby cry, yeah
The singer caused her loved one to cry
He tried hard to help me
The singer's loved one tried to assist her in her struggles
He put me at ease
Her loved one attempted to help relieve her stress and anxiety
And he loved me so naughty
Her loved one showed her affection in a playful and mischievous way
Made me weak in the knees
Her loved one's affection made her feel overwhelmed and emotional
I'm so hard to handle
The singer acknowledges that she is difficult to handle
I'm selfish and I'm sad
The singer admits that she is self-centered and unhappy
Now I've gone and lost the best baby
The singer lost her loved one, who was the best thing in her life
That I ever had
The loved one was the most important and valuable thing the singer ever had
Oh I wish I had a river so long
The singer wishes for a way to escape from her heartbreak and pain
I would teach my feet to, to fly
If she finds a way to escape, the singer wishes to feel free like she is flying
I made my baby say goodbye, say goodbye
The singer's actions caused her loved one to leave her and say goodbye
Yeah I wish I had a river I could skate away on and on
The singer continues to wish for a peaceful escape from her problems
And on, and on
The singer wishes for her escape to continue indefinitely
Lyrics © Crazy Crow Music / Siquomb Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Joni Mitchell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind