One hails from St. Louis, has a band, and has been quietly and steadily building a fervent following across the country, stepping outside his role as one of Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefers to front his own band, The Peter Mayer Group. Melding a unique and eclectic writing style, a distinctive voice, and virtuoso musicianship, Peter and his band create compelling and accessible music that is electrifying in live performance.
The other is a folk singer and hails from Stillwater, MN. This Peter writes songs for a small planet—songs about interconnectedness and the human journey; about the beauty and the mystery of the world. Whimsical, humorous, and profound, his music breaks the boundaries of "folk" and transcends to a realm beyond the everyday love song, to a place of wonder at the very heart of life itself.
This second Peter began playing the guitar and writing songs when he was in high school. He studied theology and music in college and then spent two years in seminary. After deciding that the priesthood wasn't for him, he took a part-time job as a church music director for eight years, while performing at clubs and colleges and writing and recording his music. In 1995, he quit his job and started touring full-time. Since then, Peter has gradually gained a dedicated, word-of-mouth following, selling out shows from Minnesota to Texas, New England to California. He has eight CDs to his credit, and has sold over 50,000 of them independently.
Blue River
Peter Mayer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You could wait forever to get this loneliness off your back
Even the moon waits for another sun
To shine a light shine a light on everyone
You can run you can hide
You can die of thirst by the river side
Love waits for you on the blue river
Roll on deep waters come to quench the great desire
Past the rich man's factory past the poor man's pride
Lay down your burdens every fear and tear you cried
Take my hand leave this land that has left you high and dry
You can run you can hide
You can die of thirst by the river side
Don't leave me out on the blue river
You can run you can hide
You can live your life by what's denied now don't leave me waiting on the blue river
Save your strength for the good fight
Save your tears for the sorrow
Spend your love it's alright
Before it's gone gone gone tomorrow
For the day will come when you leave this dusty town
And your cross will take it's place by your father's in the ground
Love is not just a fable that Hollywood bought and sold
Oh let me tell you how love is the only road
The song Blue River by Peter Mayer is a beautiful reflection on the concept of loneliness and how it is a universal feeling that we all experience at some point in our lives. The opening line speaks of the stark contrast between day and night, suggesting that loneliness can exist in both light and darkness. The next line establishes the weight and persistence of loneliness, and while the moon waits for another sun to shine a light, we wait for something or someone to help us out of our lonely state.
The chorus speaks of the ability to run and hide from our feelings, but it also acknowledges that we can die of thirst by the river side - suggesting that we can seek to quench our loneliness in unfulfilling ways. The blue river may represent the possibility of finding love and hope in a world that can be dreary and lonely. The imagery of rolling deep waters and leaving burdens and fears behind is powerful and speaks to the universality of human emotion. The song acknowledges that love is not a miracle cure, but it can help us on our journeys and make our time on earth more meaningful.
Overall, Blue River is a moving song that speaks to the human condition and our need for connection and love.
Line by Line Meaning
Day come white night come black
Days and nights pass by, with light and darkness taking turns.
You could wait forever to get this loneliness off your back
Loneliness is a weight that can be hard to shake, and waiting for it to pass on its own may take a long time.
Even the moon waits for another sun
Just like the cycles of day and night, the moon must wait for the sun to rise in order to shine fully.
To shine a light shine a light on everyone
The light of the moon (and metaphorically, of hope) is meant to shine on everyone, not just a select few.
You can run you can hide
Trying to escape from problems is an option, but it may not be a true solution.
You can die of thirst by the river side
Being close to a source of help does not guarantee that one will access it, and one may suffer even in its presence.
Love waits for you on the blue river
Love and hope are available; one need only look and reach out to find them.
Roll on deep waters come to quench the great desire
The river flows with the potential to satisfy deep desires.
Past the rich man's factory past the poor man's pride
Distractions of wealth and poverty can be left behind, as love exists beyond these material markers.
Lay down your burdens every fear and tear you cried
In order to access the peace of love and hope, one must let go of one's fears and sufferings.
Take my hand leave this land that has left you high and dry
Another (represented here by the singer) can offer a helping hand to guide one away from the emptiness of life.
Don't leave me out on the blue river
The singer joins in on the need for connection and help, not wanting to be left alone in isolation.
You can live your life by what's denied now don't leave me waiting on the blue river
Living by the obstacles and denied opportunities in life can lead to a lonely existence, and it is better to strive for more and reach out to others in the process.
Save your strength for the good fight
Use one's energy wisely on efforts that will have a positive outcome.
Save your tears for the sorrow
Cry when sadness truly warrants it, and not waste emotions on trivial matters.
Spend your love it's alright
Using love and kindness is never a waste, and can have a lasting impact.
Before it's gone gone gone tomorrow
Time is precious, and it is important to use love and kindness while one still can.
For the day will come when you leave this dusty town
Life will not always stay static, and change is inevitable.
And your cross will take it's place by your father's in the ground
Death is a certainty, and one must make the most of life before that point.
Love is not just a fable that Hollywood bought and sold
Love and hope may be portrayed in media, but they are also grounded in reality.
Oh let me tell you how love is the only road
The journey of life is best traveled with love as one's guide and motive.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind