The River Man
Nick Drake Lyrics


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Betty came by on her way
Said she had a word to say
About things today
And fallen leaves.

Said she hadn't heard the news
Hadn't had the time to choose
A way to lose
But she believes.

Going to see the river man
Going to tell him all I can
About the plan
For lilac time.

If he tells me all he knows
About the way his river flows
And all night shows
In summertime.

Betty said she prayed today
For the sky to blow away
Or maybe stay
She wasn't sure.

For when she thought of summer rain
Calling for her mind again
She lost the pain
And stayed for more.

Going to see the river man
Going to tell him all I can
About the ban
On feeling free.

If he tells me all he knows
About the way his river flows
I don't suppose
It's meant for me.





Oh, how they come and go
Oh, how they come and go.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Nick Drake's "River Man" are complex and layered, offering different interpretations to different listeners. At its core, the song seems to be about freedom, hope, and the quest for understanding life's mysteries. The singer, Betty, has a word to say about things today, and about fallen leaves. She hasn't had the time to choose a way to lose, but she believes that she can find a way out. She's going to see the river man, to tell him about the plan for lilac time. The lilac time is a metaphor for the blooming of a new era, a time of hope and new beginnings.


The river man is a mysterious figure who seems to hold the key to understanding life's mysteries. Betty wants to learn all she can from him about the way his river flows in summertime, and about the shows he puts on at night. Betty prays for the sky to blow away, or maybe stay, because she's not sure what she wants. But when she thinks of the summer rain and how it calls her mind again, she loses the pain and stays for more. The river man represents the possibility of freedom and enlightenment, but at the same time, Betty wonders if it's meant for her. The song ends with the lines "Oh, how they come and go," which could refer to the transience of life and the fleeting moments of happiness and hope that we encounter.


Line by Line Meaning

Betty came by on her way
An acquaintance named Betty dropped by on a visit


Said she had a word to say
Betty mentioned that she had something to share


About things today
Betty's topic of discussion was about current events


And fallen leaves.
Betty made a passing reference to the season and the leaves on the ground


Said she hadn't heard the news
Betty claimed that she hasn't been up-to-date with the latest information


Hadn't had the time to choose
Betty stated that she hasn't had a chance to make a decision


A way to lose
Betty was talking about a choice that could lead to failure


But she believes.
Despite not knowing what to do, Betty has faith that everything will work out


Going to see the river man
The artist is planning to visit the River Man, who may have guidance or insight to offer


Going to tell him all I can
The artist wants to share their thoughts and experiences with the River Man


About the plan
The singer has a strategy or purpose in mind


For lilac time.
The artist is referring to the spring season when lilacs bloom, a time associated with renewal and beauty


If he tells me all he knows
The singer is hoping that the River Man will impart his wisdom


About the way his river flows
The singer is looking for information on how the River Man conducts his life


And all night shows
The singer is interested in the River Man's experiences and adventures


In summertime.
The artist is referring to the summer season, perhaps as a metaphor for a period of growth or success


Betty said she prayed today
Betty mentioned that she had offered a prayer earlier


For the sky to blow away
Betty was hoping that the clouds would clear and the sun would come out


Or maybe stay
Betty was uncertain whether she wanted the sun to shine or not


She wasn't sure.
Betty was ambivalent about what she wished for


For when she thought of summer rain
Betty had a particular experience or memory involving rainfall in the summer


Calling for her mind again
The memory or experience was repeatedly coming back to her


She lost the pain
Thinking about the summer rain brought Betty comfort and eased her suffering


And stayed for more.
Betty continued to think about the rainfall and relish the happy feeling it gave her


About the ban
The singer is telling the River Man about a prohibition or restriction on freedom


On feeling free.
The singer is referring to a limitation on the ability to express oneself or live life to the fullest


I don't suppose
The singer isn't expecting the River Man to have a solution or a way out of the situation


It's meant for me.
The artist is resigned to the fact that they must face their own challenges and struggles


Oh, how they come and go
The artist is reflecting on how people and experiences enter and exit their life


Oh, how they come and go.
The singer is repeating their observation, perhaps indicating a sense of wistfulness or nostalgia




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: EMILY DICKINSON, NICK DRAKE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@aminedadiao1253

Lyrics:
Betty came by on her way
Said she had a word to say
About things today
And fallen leaves.
Said she hadn't heard the news
Hadn't had the time to choose
A way to lose
But she believes.
Going to see the river man
Going to tell him all I can
About the plan
For lilac time.
If he tells me all he knows
About the way his river flows
And all night shows
In summertime.
Betty said she prayed today
For the sky to blow away
Or maybe stay
She wasn't sure.
For when she thought of summer rain
Calling for her mind again
She lost the pain
And stayed for more.
Going to see the river man
Going to tell him all I can
About the ban
On feeling free.
If he tells me all he knows
About the way his river flows
I don't suppose
It's meant for me.
Oh, how they come and go
Oh, how they come and go



All comments from YouTube:

@Hollowsmith

Nick Drake can teach unknown musicians a lesson.

MAKE YOUR MUSIC. Record it the best you can with the time and resources you have. Even if you're a total unknown, MAKE IT FOR YOU. Because remember, when Nick Drake died, he was a VERY obscure musician, known to an extremely small group of fellow folk musicians. And here we are decades later, and the QUALITY OF HIS ART has slowly made him become a very well known musician worldwide with millions of listens. It was like that with MANY musicians: folk artist Judee Sill, the punk band Death, and in some extreme cases like Sibylle Baier where her son literally found her recordings decades later in an attic and decided to release them. All these musicians now are highly revered decades later by hundreds of thousands of people and in some cases millions of people.

So MAKE YOUR ART. Make it, and release it into the public like a message in a bottle being thrown into the sea. It will have its own journey in terms of being noticed, which is up to chance, but make sure whatever is in the message reflects the best music you can make.

@bubbyskittles4802

This comment really changed the way I think about my music. Thank you so much

@manosparavida3551

I've greatly admired Nick Drake's music since 1998, when a total bad lady ended our relationship and a friend suggested that I should listen to '5 Leaves Left. Since then I've discovered Bryter Later etc. He's so unheralded, it's unbelievable. I've a huge diversity in music, but I don't know of anyone who has hit me like Nick Drake. I'm a huge Dylan fan, but if I had one option,i it would be Nick Drake.

@JS-wi9mw

great music will always see the light of day and find appreciation...just sometimes happens after the artist has passed :(

@akimyoung8507

Thank you for these words❤️

@andrewcorbett5729

I've done this with my poetry and art. I've sold about 3 books online so far but maybe one day long after I'm gone it will reach more people

48 More Replies...

@zackzallie8735

For me, he is the Van Gogh of music. He gained spotlight after his death, although he never gain good reputation for his music in his lifetime. He suffered depression and his lyrics is pure poetry and emotions like Van Gogh's paintings.

@user-le1ec1mm2i

So on point. A modern day artist unappreciated in his time whose suffering fueled his art until he died. Beautiful. I hope he has been at peace.

@billoliver5242

He and Syd Barrett

@JeffreySinghMedia

My friend introduced me to him yesterday and I said the exact same thing

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