River
Peyroux Madeleine Lyrics


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It's coming on Christmas
They're cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
But it don't snow here
It stays pretty green
I'm going to make a lot of money
Then I'm going to quit this crazy scene
I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly

I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I made my baby cry
He tried hard to help me
You know, he put me at ease
And he loved me so naughty
Made me weak in the knees
I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I'm so hard to handle
I'm selfish and I'm sad
Now I've gone and lost the best baby
That I ever had
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly

Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I made my baby say goodbye

It's coming on Christmas
They're cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace




I wish I had a river
I could skate away on

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Peyroux Madeleine's song "River" are a poignant and bittersweet reflection on the holiday season and the desire to escape from painful memories and circumstances. The opening verse references the festive activities of cutting down trees and putting up decorations, but emphasizes that the singer cannot take pleasure in these traditions because they cannot escape the emotional turmoil that haunts them. The repetition of "I wish I had a river/I could skate away on" emphasizes the desire for a means of escape and contrasts with the reality that "it don't snow here/It stays pretty green."


The second verse offers some context for the singer's feelings of sadness and regret, particularly in relation to a past romantic relationship. The line "I made my baby cry" suggests that the singer has hurt someone they care about deeply, and the following lines convey the extent to which this person tried to support and comfort them. Despite this, the singer still feels "hard to handle/selfish and sad," and acknowledges that they have lost the best thing they ever had.


Overall, "River" is a deeply emotional and relatable song that captures the conflicted feelings that many people experience during the holiday season. The desire for a clean break from the past and the pain of nostalgia is something that many people can relate to.


Line by Line Meaning

It's coming on Christmas
The holiday season is approaching


They're cutting down trees
People are chopping down trees for decoration


They're putting up reindeer
People are setting up festive decorations


And singing songs of joy and peace
People are celebrating and spreading positivity


I wish I had a river
The artist desires a place of solace and escape


I could skate away on
The singer wants to physically escape their troubles


But it don't snow here
The singer's current location is not conducive to skating or winter activities


It stays pretty green
The current environment is not in line with the artist's desires


I'm going to make a lot of money
The artist hopes to gain financial stability


Then I'm going to quit this crazy scene
The artist wants to leave their current hectic situation


I wish I had a river so long
The singer desires a vast and seemingly endless escape from their troubles


I would teach my feet to fly
The artist wants to transcend their current limitations


I made my baby cry
The singer caused emotional pain to their loved one


He tried hard to help me
The singer's partner attempted to support them


You know, he put me at ease
The partner was a source of comfort for the singer


And he loved me so naughty
The partner's love was playful and mischievous


Made me weak in the knees
The partner's love was intense and passionate


I'm so hard to handle
The singer acknowledges they are difficult to deal with


I'm selfish and I'm sad
The singer has negative traits that affect their relationships


Now I've gone and lost the best baby
The artist lost their partner who was the best thing in their life


That I ever had
The partner was incredibly important to the artist


Oh I wish I had a river
The artist still desires a place of solace and escape


I could skate away on
The singer still wants to physically escape their troubles


I made my baby say goodbye
The artist's actions caused their partner to leave them




Lyrics © DistroKid, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Integrity Music, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Joni Mitchell

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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