River
Motel Motel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I am home
Or when I go out for a drink
Take me to the river
See it slide on through
And run over me
Til' I can barely breath
Maybe I wont be here anymore
It's hard not to think about her
It's hard not to care, when she's holding on to things like
Gold rings
I wanna see you in
Tennessee
Well you were wrong about
Everything
Please come down
No need to get worked up.
Lord I miss my sister
I think she misses me to
Alone in Chicago
I saw that river dry up
I saw the fish dry up to
And I was thinking about you
Maybe I wont be here tomorrow
Maybe I wont be here for the rest of my life
It's hard not to get hurt
It's hard not to care
When she's holding on to things like
Gold rings
I wanna see you in
Tennessee
Well you were wrong about
Everything
Please come down
Everything
Please wont you come down
Everything
Please let it all be good
The lyrics to Motel Motel's "River" are a melancholic reflection on missing someone, specifically the singer's sister. The singer feels the absence of their sister deeply, even when they are out socializing and attempting to enjoy themselves. The river that runs through the song represents an escape, a place to go where the singer can let the current wash over them until they are almost gasping for air, a metaphor for the overwhelming emotions that they are feeling.
The singer recognizes that life is unpredictable and that they may not be here tomorrow. The possibility of death lends an air of urgency to their feelings of longing for their sister. It is hard for the singer to think about their sister without becoming emotional, as she holds onto material possessions like gold rings, perhaps an indication of the sister's materialism or perhaps a way for the singer to illustrate how the sister holds onto the past. The singer wants to see their sister in Tennessee and is desperate for her to come down and reconcile their relationship.
The second verse finds the singer alone in Chicago, watching the river dry up and the fish die due to pollution. The situation resembles the feelings of the singer, as they feel that they are deteriorating while they are apart from their sister. The final verse finds the singer begging their sister to come down and let everything be good once more. The song leaves the listener with the sense that there is unresolved conflict between the singer and their sister, but that they are hoping for resolution and a way back to a happier time.
Line by Line Meaning
Lord I miss my sister
The singer is feeling homesick and missing their sister.
When I am home
The singer misses their sister even when they are at home.
Or when I go out for a drink
The singer misses their sister even when they go out to drink.
Take me to the river
The artist is seeking a change of environment and wants to go to the river.
See it slide on through
The artist wants to see the river flowing calmly.
And run over me
The singer wants to feel the river's flow physically.
Til' I can barely breath
The singer wants to immerse themselves in the river until they can barely breathe.
Maybe I wont be here tomorrow
The artist is uncertain about their future.
Maybe I wont be here anymore
The artist is questioning their existence.
It's hard not to think about her
The artist finds it difficult not to think about their sister.
It's hard not to care, when she's holding on to things like
The singer is concerned about their sister and what she values.
Gold rings
The artist's sister values material possessions.
I wanna see you in
The singer wants to see their sister in a specific place.
Tennessee
The singer wants to see their sister in Tennessee.
Well you were wrong about
The singer's sister had incorrect beliefs about something.
Everything
The artist's sister was wrong about everything.
Please come down
The artist wants their sister to come and visit them.
No need to get worked up.
The singer reassures their sister that there is no need for worry or stress.
I think she misses me to
The singer believes that their sister misses them as well.
Alone in Chicago
The artist is alone in Chicago.
I saw that river dry up
The artist saw the river dry up, which caused them to feel sad and lonely.
I saw the fish dry up to
The artist saw the effects of the river drying up on the fish population.
And I was thinking about you
The singer was thinking about their sister while they observed the dried up river.
Maybe I wont be here tomorrow
The artist is still unsure about their future.
Maybe I wont be here for the rest of my life
The singer is still uncertain about their future and whether they will be around for a long time.
It's hard not to get hurt
The singer is vulnerable and easily affected emotionally.
When she's holding on to things like
The singer's sister is placing value on certain possessions or beliefs.
Please come down
The artist is still requesting that their sister visit them.
Everything
The artist's sister's beliefs and opinions on everything were wrong.
Please wont you come down
The singer's request for their sister to visit them is becoming more urgent.
Please let it all be good
The singer hopes for a positive outcome or for everything to be okay.
Contributed by Liliana H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@greeeen_mind
Lyrics ❤
Long-time lover, have you gone?
I left you walking through the parking lot of a Motel 6
As I turned our van back east
Somewhere on the road we lost our way
In my mind, in my mind
I can save us all I can breathe it all back to life
In my mind and in my mind, I've spent my whole life movin'
I've spent my whole life on a road
From a dream, I'm wakin' up
And for the first time, I'm terrified of wakin' up alone
Within the shade of my delusion
I drive into the night
I drive into a lie that I deemed worth living all my life
And in my hands, a child is dying
In my mind, in my mind
I can save the boy I can breathe it all back to life
In my mind and in my mind I've spent my whole life movin'
I've spent my whole life on a road
From a dream, I'm wakin' up
And for the first time, I'm terrified of wakin' up alone
I'm terrified of wakin' up alone
@justinmiller5280
This song is an unknown masterpiece.
@chloe5854
Painful to listen to
@Master.blaster1212
Totally agree. I discovered it tonight and immediately loved it.
@terywetherlow7970
Yes. Most of their works are Master pieces, that is.
@o11ivand3r
I discovered it a few days ago and I’m already planning out an animation
@bparks2193
Yes
@abigaleriggs4884
Here in 2023 and found this song through a Spotify playlist. I’m shocked it isn’t a famous song, this is a masterpiece!
@wishingwell_333
same exact thing here
@clayburnd
This song speaks to me. My husband died 8 years ago, when I heard this song, "I am terrified of waking up alone." "in my mind, in my mind I can breathe it back to life". It makes me cry....because I could feel the depth of my loss. I am know finding my way on a new path, but when I hear this song, it still makes me cry...
@RiverWhyless
I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. I wish you the best and hope that music still impacts your life in a positive way. Much love to you and I hope to meet you down the road.
Best,
Ryan