Black River
Paul Weller Lyrics
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Black river
Black river
The story?s still unfolding and like the river rolling
It's always moving like a tide
Seemingly unchanging
But of course nothing stays the same, you'll see
Black river
Black river
Black river
And if I scratch the surface and try to look to learn it
Oh, what fantastic worlds I'll find
Stay with me forever
Buried deep inside my mind, you'll see
Sha, la, la, la, la
I'm casting out my line
Although it?s floating by
Who knows what I'll find, we'll see
It's early in the morning, I watched a raindrop falling
So slim and tender from a leaf
It stays with me forever
Buried deep inside of me, you'll see
Black river
Black river
Black river
Black river
Black river
Black river
You drifter
The lyrics of Paul Weller's Black River speak to the idea of constant change and the never-ending flow of time. Weller uses the metaphor of a black river that is always moving, but appears unchanging to the human eye. The river represents the regular flow of life, with people and circumstances passing by and being carried away by the current. However, Weller suggests that if we scratch beneath the surface of this constant motion, we will find a world of fantastic expression and hidden depths.
The song’s protagonist uses fishing as a metaphor for examining the river of life, throwing out a line and seeing what he can catch. Though he cannot predict what he will catch, he knows that there are unknown, fascinating aspects of life to be uncovered. As he looks at the morning raindrop and thinks about how it fell from the leaf, he realizes that like the drop of water, even the smallest moments can stay with us forever and impact us at a deep level.
In summary, Black River tackles the themes of change, the passing of time and the beauty of life. Weller suggests that we should look past the surface of life to find deeper meaning and hidden beauty.
Line by Line Meaning
Black river
The constant presence of change, represented by the consistent flow of water in a river
Black river
The repetition of the phrase emphasizes the ongoing nature of change in life.
Black river
The mystery and unknown elements of life, represented by the darkness of a black river.
The story?s still unfolding and like the river rolling
Life is an ongoing narrative that never truly ends and is consistently changing, like the flow of water in a river.
It's always moving like a tide
Life is constantly in motion and never stagnant, like the ebb and flow of the tides.
Seemingly unchanging
Appearances can be deceiving, and while things may seem the same on the surface, life is constantly evolving underneath.
But of course nothing stays the same, you'll see
Change is inevitable, and even the most stable aspects of life can shift at any moment.
And if I scratch the surface and try to look to learn it
By exploring and delving deeper into life, we can uncover new perspectives and knowledge.
Oh, what fantastic worlds I'll find
The possibilities for discovery in life are endless and can inspire a sense of awe and wonder.
Stay with me forever
The impact of new experiences and knowledge can stay with us for a lifetime.
Buried deep inside my mind, you'll see
The memories and lessons of life become a part of who we are and inform our future actions and decisions.
Sha, la, la, la, la
The use of this nonsensical lyric highlights the idea that life and its lessons don't always need to make sense or be clear-cut.
I'm casting out my line
Approaching life with a sense of opportunity and openness, ready to experience the unknown.
Although it's floating by
Life can pass us by quickly, and it's important to be present and in the moment to fully experience it.
Who knows what I'll find, we'll see
The unpredictability of life means that anything is possible, and the future is open to interpretation.
It's early in the morning, I watched a raindrop falling
Small moments of beauty and significance can be found everywhere in life, even in ordinary, everyday occurrences.
So slim and tender from a leaf
The delicate and fleeting nature of life can be observed in the smallest details.
You drifter
A reference to the impermanence of life and the idea that we are all simply passing through it.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL JOHN WELLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind