Better Place
Old Man River Lyrics
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Shins on everyone
But it doesn't shine on you
It's only passing through
And you already know that all the words you throw
Won't make it go away
It's here to stay
The one you know
Take me to a better place
Where I can grow
And teach me how to lose
All I know
That's all I know
Winter just begun
It rains on everyone
But it doesn't rain on you
It's only passing through
And time it goes so slow
It only goes to show
How easy it could be
To set you free
So take me to a better place
The one you know
Take me to a better place
Where I can grow
And teach me how to lose
All I know
That's all I know
The lyrics to "Better Place" by Old Man River convey a sense of longing for a place where one can grow and leave behind the troubles of the present. The opening lines refer to the morning sun shining on everyone except the singer, which suggests a feeling of isolation and perhaps being left out. The repetition of the phrase "it's only passing through" reinforces the idea that despite the temporary nature of life's struggles, they can still have a lasting impact.
The chorus speaks directly to this desire for something better, as the singer implores someone to take them to a place where they can grow and learn to let go of what they know. The reference to winter and rain on everyone except the singer further emphasizes the sense of being stuck in a difficult situation, with time feeling slow and unyielding. The final lines of the song suggest a need for guidance or support in finding this better place.
Line by Line Meaning
Here comes the morning sun
The sun rises and begins to shine on everything, including everyone in the world.
Shins on everyone
The sun shines on everyone equally, regardless of who they are.
But it doesn't shine on you
Despite the fact that the sun shines on everyone, it doesn't shine on the person singing the song.
It's only passing through
The sun is just a temporary fixture in the sky, and its warmth and light are fleeting.
And you already know that all the words you throw
The person singing the song has tried to make the sun shine on them with their words before, but it never works.
Won't make it go away
No matter what the person singing the song does or says, the fact that the sun doesn't shine on them remains unchanged.
It's here to stay
The person singing the song has to accept that the situation is permanent and won't change anytime soon.
So take me to a better place
The person singing the song wants to escape from their current situation and be transported to a better, happier place.
The one you know
The person singing the song wants to go to a place that the person they're addressing knows of and can take them there.
Where I can grow
The person singing the song wants to be in a place where they can grow and develop as a person.
And teach me how to lose
The person singing the song wants to learn how to let go of everything they know, including their struggles and failures.
All I know
The person singing the song knows that they need to let go of everything they know in order to move on and find a better place.
Winter just begun
The seasons have changed, and it's now wintertime.
It rains on everyone
Just like the sun shines on everyone, the rain falls on everyone too.
But it doesn't rain on you
Despite the fact that everyone else is being rained on, the person singing the song isn't experiencing the same thing.
It's only passing through
The rain is just a temporary phenomenon and won't last forever.
And time it goes so slow
When it seems like everything is going wrong, time seems to go by very slowly.
It only goes to show
The slow passage of time is an indication that things aren't going the way they should be.
How easy it could be
Despite how challenging things are, the person singing the song knows that it could be easier if they were somewhere else.
To set you free
By taking the person singing the song to a better place, they will feel liberated and free from their current struggles.
Contributed by Aaliyah G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.