Rivers
Passenger Lyrics


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There’s wood chip on the walls,
There’s wood on the stove,
You would if you could but you cannot I know,
But i’m still yours alone.

We’d lie on our backs,
We’d lie on your floor,
But we lied so much we don’t talk any more,
But i’m still yours alone,
You said you were tired I said I feel the same,
I put on my shoes and I got on the train.

To see sunlight fade and the shadows grow long,
To see rivers go winding blindly back to the storm,
And the rickety tracks they’re taking me back to where I used to belong.

There’s a weight on our shoulders,
A weight to your tone,
You wait on tables I wait by the phone,
And i’m still yours alone.

You blew out the candles when we fell apart,
I’m not childish just scared of the dark.

I see sunlight fade and the shadows grow long,
To see rivers go winding blindly back to the storm,
And the rickety tracks they are taking me back to where i used to belong.

oh oh oh oh oh
oh oh oh oh oh
oh oh oh oh oh
oh oh oh oh oh

I feel sunlight fade and the shadows grow long,




I see rivers go winding blindly back to the storm,
And the rickety tracks taking me back to where I used to belong.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Rivers" by Passenger seem to be about a relationship that has fallen apart. The opening lines describe a shabby environment - wood chip on the walls and wood on the stove - indicating a sense of neglect and deterioration. The singer acknowledges that his partner would like to be with him, but for some reason they can't be together. Despite this, he declares that he is still hers alone, suggesting that he still holds onto hope or love for her.


The second verse recalls the times they spent together lying on their backs and lying on the floor. However, the lying may have been lies they told each other, leading to their current lack of communication. The singer reflects on the fact that they are both tired and feeling the same way, but they are now apart - he has put on his shoes and got on a train. He contrasts this journey with the fading sunlight, the growing shadows, and the winding rivers that lead back to the storm. The rickety tracks carry him back to where he used to belong, as if he is returning to a past version of himself.


The third verse describes the present situation where there is a "weight" on their shoulders and a weight to his partner's tone. She waits on tables and he waits by the phone, indicating a sense of inertia and waiting for something to happen. The singer reveals that she blew out the candles when they fell apart, suggesting that she has moved on from the relationship. He claims he's not childish, just scared of the dark and the unknown future. The final lines repeat the earlier images of fading sunlight, winding rivers, and rickety tracks leading back to where he used to belong.


Line by Line Meaning

There’s wood chip on the walls,
The walls are made of cheap wood that's been covered up with chipboard.


There’s wood on the stove,
The stove is lit with firewood, probably to keep warm in a low-cost home.


You would if you could but you cannot I know,
You wish you could do more for me, but you can't and I understand that.


But i’m still yours alone.
Despite our limited means, I am still committed to you and only you.


We’d lie on our backs,
We used to spend lazy days together, just lying on our backs and relaxing.


We’d lie on your floor,
We probably didn't have a bed, so we'd just lie on the floor together.


But we lied so much we don’t talk any more,
We damaged our relationship by lying too often, so now we can't communicate.


You said you were tired I said I feel the same,
We're both exhausted from our struggles, but we can't do anything about it.


I put on my shoes and I got on the train.
I've decided to leave and start over somewhere else, but it's not an easy choice.


To see sunlight fade and the shadows grow long,
I'm leaving in the late afternoon, as the sun sets and darkness approaches.


To see rivers go winding blindly back to the storm,
I'm feeling lost and overwhelmed, like a river flowing blindly toward a storm that I don't know how to avoid.


And the rickety tracks they’re taking me back to where I used to belong.
I'm returning to a place from my past, but it might not be the best option for me.


There’s a weight on our shoulders,
We're both burdened by the difficulties of our lives together.


A weight to your tone,
Your voice sounds heavy and tired, reflecting the challenges we face.


You wait on tables I wait by the phone,
You have a job serving others, while I'm stuck at home waiting for a change.


And i’m still yours alone.
Despite the struggles that we face, I still belong to you, and you to me.


You blew out the candles when we fell apart,
The end of our relationship was marked by the extinguishing of romantic gestures, like blowing out candles after an argument.


I’m not childish just scared of the dark.
I'm not acting out of immaturity, but rather showing my fear of the unknown future.


I see sunlight fade and the shadows grow long,
As I reflect on our relationship and the difficulties that we face, I see the fading sunlight and growing shadows outside.


To see rivers go winding blindly back to the storm,
I'm still struggling to find my way forward, feeling like I'm being pulled blindly toward unknown difficulties.


And the rickety tracks taking me back to where i used to belong.
My journey is taking me back to a place that I remember, but that might not be the best option for me.




Contributed by Owen O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@VTarlis

[Lior]
There's wood chip on the walls
There's wood on the stove
You would if you could
But you cannot I know
But I'm still your's alone

We lie on our back's
We lie on your floor
But we lied so much
We don't talk anymore
And I'm still your's alone

[Mike]
You said you were tired
I said, I feel the same
I put on my shoes and I got on the train

[Both]
See sunlight fade
And the shadows and grow long
Want to see rivers go winding blindly
Back to the stone

And the rickety tracks
They're taking me back
To where I used to belong

[Mike]
There's a weight on our shoulder's
A weight to your tongue
You wait on table's,
I'll wait by the phone
And I'm still yours alone

[Lior]
You blew out the candle's
When we fell apart
I'm not trying, just scared of the dark

[Both]
I see sunlight fade
And the shadows grow long
To see rivers go winding blindly
Back to the stone

And the rickety tracks
They're taking me back
To where I used to belong

[Mike]
And oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

[Both]
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, no
Oh, oh, oh

I feel sunlight fade
And the shadows grow long
I see rivers go winding blindly
Back to the stone

And the rickety tracks
They're taking me back
To where I used to belong



All comments from YouTube:

@callmetony7143

Man, this deserved 1M views.

@kivaughnmcintosh1317

Definitely one of the greatest Passenger ever, one of my favourite too, views on this is low but that's how deceiving numbers can be, especially on most if not all of Passenger's stuff. Just shows the the few who seeks and knows the deepest, meaningful and the most purest music, his music heals, it reaches your soul and seems to exceeds that, one of the greatest lyricist, storyteller and singer ever💯. Thanks passenger, your music is what soothes me and makes me find peace in some of the darkest times, even when they seem endless.

@emmjh

Can I just say, Lior's voice is 😍
*as for Mike, well.... I'm forever here, so yeahh

@eliasbischoff176

imagine this in the end of an emotional film with a happy ending.

@alabaster419

My favourite off of the album

@syawalhilman3982

THIS SONG IS MASTERPIECE

@carpediem1981jfa

Masterpiece

@danyoogifletzet

this song is so underrated :(

@moyses.henrique

Beautiful voices ❤

@actkind

Amazingly beautiful song!

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