Down By The River
Neil Young (with Crazy Horse) Lyrics

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Be on my side I'll be on your side, baby
There is no reason for you to hide,
This much madness is too much sorrow,
It's impossible to make it today,
Hey, hey, ooh-ooh

She could drag me over the rainbow,
Send me away.

Down by the river
I shot my baby
Down by the river,
Dead, shot her dead.

You take my hand, I'll take your hand,
Together we may get away.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Neil Young with Crazy Horse's song Down By The River showcase themes of loyalty and trust between two individuals. The opening lines, "Be on my side I'll be on your side, baby / There is no reason for you to hide," suggest that the singer is extending an offer of fidelity and honesty to another person. The repeated use of the word "baby" reinforces the idea of a close, intimate relationship between the two parties.

However, the lyrics also contain darker themes of madness, sorrow, and violence. The lines "This much madness is too much sorrow / It's impossible to make it today" suggest that the singer is struggling with mental anguish, perhaps related to their relationship with the other person. Later, the lyrics take a sharp turn as the singer describes shooting their lover dead by the river. It is unclear why the singer commits this act, but it hints at a potentially destructive or dysfunctional relationship between the two.

The final lines of the song return to the themes of unity and escape, with the singer inviting the other person to join them in leaving their troubles behind. "You take my hand, I'll take your hand / Together we may get away" suggests a desire to leave behind the pain and turmoil of their relationship and start anew.

Line by Line Meaning

Be on my side I'll be on your side, baby
Let's stick together and support each other no matter what

There is no reason for you to hide
You don't need to keep anything from me, I'm here to listen

This much madness is too much sorrow
We're both dealing with a lot of craziness and heartache right now

It's impossible to make it today
It feels like the world is against us and we're struggling to survive

Hey, hey, ooh-ooh
This is a distress call for help to anyone who will listen

She could drag me over the rainbow
I would do anything for her, even if it means going to great lengths

Send me away
She has the power to make me feel alive or tear me apart

Down by the river
This is where the tragedy takes place and everything changes

I shot my baby
This is a confession that I am responsible for her death

Down by the river
This haunting refrain represents the permanent effect of my actions

Dead, shot her dead
This is the brutal reality of what I have done