River
Nashville Cast (Holiday) Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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,
Stays pretty green
And and then I'm gonna 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
He tried hard to help me,
He put me at ease
Lord,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've ever had
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 say goodbye
It's coming on Christmas,
They're cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace,
I wish I had a river I could skate away on
The song "River" by Nashville Cast Sam Palladio is a bittersweet reflection on the holiday season and a past relationship that has ended. The lyrics describe the festive activities of the season, such as cutting down trees and singing songs, but the singer cannot fully participate in the joy due to their heartache. The repetition of the line "Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on" highlights the singer's desire to escape their pain and start anew.
The second verse focuses on the singer's feelings of inadequacy and their regret at losing their partner. The line "He tried hard to help me, he put me at ease" suggests that their partner was supportive but ultimately couldn't save the relationship. The chorus repeats, emphasizing the singer's wish for a fresh start and the pain of losing their love.
The song's use of the holiday season as a backdrop for heartbreak is a unique and emotional take on a familiar theme. The imagery of the trees and reindeer serves as a contrast to the singer's sadness, highlighting the dissonance between the external appearance of joy and the internal turmoil of the singer. The desire for escape is a universal feeling that many listeners can relate to, especially during the holiday season when nostalgic feelings of past relationships and happier times can be overwhelming.
Line by Line Meaning
It's coming on Christmas,
They're cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace,
The holiday season is here and people are busy with decorations and joyous celebrations.
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on
But it don't snow here,
Stays pretty green
I'm gonna make a lot of money
And and then I'm gonna quit this crazy scene
The singer wishes he could escape his current situation and leave behind all the craziness. He plans to earn enough money to eventually quit and start over somewhere new, but where he is now, there is no snow or frozen river to skate 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
The singer still longs for a river that he could escape on, even if it means learning to fly. He regrets making his partner cry in the past.
He tried hard to help me,
He put me at ease
Lord,he loved me so naughty,
Made me weak in the knees
Oh I wish I had a river I could skate away on
The singer's partner loved him, even when he was being difficult or mischievous. He wishes he could escape from his problems, including the guilt he feels for hurting his partner.
I'm so hard to handle,
I'm selfish and I'm sad
Now I've gone and lost the best baby
That I've ever had
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on
The singer admits that he has flaws and that his behavior caused him to lose the best thing he ever had - his partner. He still wishes for the escape that a frozen river would provide.
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 say goodbye
The singer wishes he could escape the pain of losing his partner and he blames himself for causing the relationship to end. He still hopes to find the idyllic frozen river he imagines.
It's coming on Christmas,
They're cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace,
I wish I had a river I could skate away on
The singer is still trapped in his situation and longs for the escapism of a frozen river. Even as the holiday season brings joy to others, he can't shake his desire to escape.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Crazy Crow Music / Siquomb Music Publishing
Written by: Joni Mitchell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind