River
Rhythm and the Sea Lyrics


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I was just the age of sixteen
When I first went on the drive
After six months hard labor
At home I did arrive
I courted with a pretty girl
T'was her caused me to roam
Now I'm just a river driver
And I'm far away from home

[Chorus]
I'll eat when I am hungry
And I'll drink when I am dry
Get drunk whenever I'm ready
Get sober by and by
And if this river don't drown me
It's down I'll mean to roam
For I'm a river driver
And I'm far away from home

I'll build a lonesome castle
Upon some mountain high
Where she can sit and view me
As I go passing by
Where she can sit and view me
As I go marching on
For I'm a river driver
And I'm far away from home

[Chorus]

When I am old and feeble
And in my sickness lie
Just wrap me up in a blanket
And lay me down to die
Just get a little bluebird
To sing for me alone
For I'm a river driver
And I'm far away from home

[Chorus: x2]





For I'm a river driver
And I'm far away from home

Overall Meaning

The song "River" by Rhythm and the Sea tells the story of a river driver who recounts his life's struggles and experiences. The singer is still quite young, only sixteen years old, when he first became a river driver, though he had to work hard for six months before he could finally return home. It is revealed that it was a girl that inspired him to go on this journey, hinting at a romantic history, and it is left up to the audience to speculate whether or not he regrets leaving his home.


The chorus talks about the singer's carefree lifestyle, telling us that he drinks and eats when he wants to and that he is far away from home. While it is clear that he misses his home, the singer is pragmatic and resigned to his circumstances, happy to go where the river takes him. He says that he'll build a "lonesome castle" where his love can watch him pass by, possibly wishing that he were back with her.


As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the singer has lived a long and difficult life, and he is prepared to die. The final verse talks about how he wants a little bluebird to sing for him when he's gone, implying that he wants to be remembered even after death. Overall, the song paints a poignant picture of a man who has lived on his own terms but still feels attached to his past.


Line by Line Meaning

I was just the age of sixteen
I started river driving at the young age of sixteen


When I first went on the drive
It was my first time as a river driver


After six months hard labor
I had to work for six long months


At home I did arrive
Finally, I came back home


I courted with a pretty girl
I fell in love with a beautiful girl


T'was her caused me to roam
She's the reason why I'm far from home


Now I'm just a river driver
I am now a professional river driver


And I'm far away from home
But I'm still far from my hometown


I'll eat when I am hungry
I'll eat only when I feel hungry


And I'll drink when I am dry
I'll drink only when I'm thirsty


Get drunk whenever I'm ready
But when I feel like drinking too much, I will


Get sober by and by
I'll sober up eventually


And if this river don't drown me
I may face danger while working on the river


It's down I'll mean to roam
But if I survive, I'll continue to travel


I'll build a lonesome castle
One day, I'll build a lonely castle


Upon some mountain high
Somewhere high up in the mountains


Where she can sit and view me
So my love can see me from afar


As I go passing by
As I continue traveling


When I am old and feeble
In my old age and weakness


And in my sickness lie
When I am ill and bedridden


Just wrap me up in a blanket
Just wrap me in a warm blanket


And lay me down to die
And let me rest in peace


Just get a little bluebird
Get a small bluebird


To sing for me alone
To sing a song just for me


For I'm a river driver
Because I am a river driver


And I'm far away from home
And I am still far from my hometown




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Jonathan Takasiliang

Penulis lirik: 莊奴 Komposer: 古月

mila, mengapa kau termenung sendiri di tepian pantai
mila, kau lihatlah apakah kau tak ngeri dilanda gelombang

demi untuk mencapai mila.. semua harapan cita cita
usah gentar rintangan mila.. usah gentar ombak samudera

mila, kau lihatlah walau awan gelap menghitam di sana
mila, nun di sana burung burung camar terbang sebebasnya

demi untuk mencapai mila.. semua harapan cita cita
usah gentar rintangan mila.. usah gentar ombak samudera

mila, mengapa kau termenung sendiri di tepian pantai
mila, kau lihatlah apakah kau tak ngeri dilanda gelombang


mila, mengapa kau termenung sendiri di tepian pantai
mila, kau lihatlah apakah kau tak ngeri dilanda gelombang

demi untuk mencapai mila.. semua harapan cita cita
usah gentar rintangan mila.. usah gentar ombak samudera

mila, kau lihatlah walau awan gelap menghitam di sana
mila, nun di sana burung burung camar terbang sebebasnya

demi untuk mencapai mila.. semua harapan cita cita
usah gentar rintangan mila.. usah gentar ombak samudera

mila, mengapa kau termenung sendiri di tepian pantai
mila, kau lihatlah apakah kau tak ngeri dilanda gelombang..



First Last

[Offset: +0000000]

[ti:海韻]
[ar:鄧麗君]
[al:]

[00:00.60] zuò cí : Zhuànɡ Nú
[00:01.10] zuò qǔ : Gǔ Yuè
[00:01.60] biān qǔ :
[00:02.10] yǎn chànɡ : Dènɡ Lì Jūn

[00:00.50]
[00:01.00] 作詞:壯奴          Songsmith:
[00:01.50] 作曲:古月          Composer:
[00:02.00] 編曲:            Music Arranger:
[00:02.50] 演唱:鄧麗君         Artist:Teresa Teng
[00:03.00]

[00:03.10] Hǎi Yùn
[00:03.60] yì jiǔ qí sì nián de Tái Wān wén yì diàn yǐnɡ

[00:10.60] nǚ lánɡ ,
[00:14.49] nǐ wèi shèn me
[00:16.86] dú zì pái huái ( pái huí ) zài hǎi tān ?

[00:26.60] nǚ lánɡ ,
[00:30.42] nán dào bú pà
[00:32.61] dà hǎi jiù yào qǐ fēnɡ lànɡ ?

[00:42.60] ā . . .
[00:45.73] bú shì hǎi lànɡ ,
[00:49.74] shì wǒ měi lì de yī shɑnɡ piāo dàng 。
[00:58.86] zònɡ rán tiān biān yǒu hēi wù ,
[01:05.23] yě yào xiànɡ nà hǎi ōu fēi xiánɡ 。

[01:14.60] nǚ lánɡ ,
[01:17.93] wǒ shì duō me
[01:20.30] xī wànɡ wéi rào nǐ shēn pánɡ 。

[01:29.60] nǚ lánɡ ,
[01:33.62] hé nǐ qù kàn dà hǎi ,
[01:39.24] qù kàn nà fēnɡ lànɡ !

[01:45.60] ā . . .
[01:48.63] bú shì hǎi lànɡ ,
[01:52.56] shì wǒ měi lì de yī shɑnɡ piāo dàng 。
[02:01.74] zònɡ rán tiān biān yǒu hēi wù ,
[02:08.12] yě yào xiànɡ nà hǎi ōu fēi xiánɡ 。

[02:16.60] nǚ lánɡ ,
[02:20.73] wǒ shì duō me
[02:22.97] xī wànɡ wéi rào nǐ shēn pánɡ 。

[02:32.60] nǚ lánɡ ,
[02:36.48] hé nǐ qù kàn dà hǎi ,
[02:42.16] qù kàn nà fēnɡ lànɡ !

[00:03.50] 海韻         Rhythm of the Wave     Ocean Rhythm
[00:04.00] 一九七四年的台灣文藝電影
[00:10.00]
[00:11.00] 女郎,
[00:14.89] 你為甚麼
[00:17.26] 獨自徘徊在海灘?   Lady, why are you wandering on the beach?
[00:25.58]
[00:27.00] 女郎,
[00:30.82] 難道不怕
[00:33.01] 大海就要起風浪?   Lady, aren't you afraid of the waves?
[00:41.70]
[00:43.00] 啊 . . .
[00:46.13] 不是海浪,      Ah . . . not sea waves,
[00:50.14] 是我美麗的衣裳飄蕩。 it's the waves of your beautiful gown.
[00:59.26] 縱然天邊有黑霧,   Though clouds are in the sky,
[01:05.63] 也要像那海鷗飛翔。  still I'll fly like the seagulls.
[01:13.58]
[01:15.00] 女郎,
[01:18.33] 我是多麼
[01:20.70] 希望圍繞你身旁。   Lady, how I long to be beside you.
[01:29.00]
[01:30.00] 女郎,
[01:34.02] 和你去看大海,
[01:39.64] 去看那風浪!     Lady, to watch the sea and waves with you!
[01:45.00]
[01:46.00] 啊 . . .
[01:49.03] 不是海浪,      Ah . . . not sea waves,
[01:52.96] 是我美麗的衣裳飄蕩。 It's the waves of your beautiful gown.
[02:02.14] 縱然天邊有黑霧,   Though clouds are in the sky,
[02:08.52] 也要像那海鷗飛翔。  still I'll fly like the seagulls.
[02:16.00]
[02:17.00] 女郎,
[02:21.13] 我是多麼
[02:23.37] 希望圍繞你身旁。   Lady, how I long to be beside you.
[02:32.00]
[02:33.00] 女郎,
[02:36.88] 和你去看大海,
[02:42.56] 去看那風浪!     Lady, to watch the sea and waves with you!
[02:47.00]

[02:47.50] This is a song by Teresa Teng called Rhythm of the Sea.
[02:48.18] The video includes the English translation of Chinese lyrics.
[02:48.87] Thank you and please enjoy!
[02:49.55]
[02:50.23] Lady, how come you are . . .
[02:50.92] wandering alone on the beach?
[02:51.60]
[02:52.28] Lady, aren't you afraid . . .
[02:52.97] that the sea will kick up stormy waves?
[02:53.65]
[02:54.33] Oh, it's not the waves;
[02:55.02] it is my beautiful clothes fluttering.
[02:55.70] Even if a black fog covers the horizon,
[02:56.38] one must still fly like a seagull.
[02:57.07]
[02:57.75] Lady, how I . . .
[02:58.43] wish to hover around you.
[02:59.12]
[02:59.80] Lady, we will gaze at the sea,
[03:00.48] and watch those stormy waves.
[03:01.17]
[03:01.85] Oh, it's not the waves;
[03:02.53] it is my beautiful clothes fluttering.
[03:03.22] Even if a black fog covers the horizon,
[03:03.90] one must still fly like a seagull.
[03:04.58]
[03:05.27] Lady, how I . . .
[03:05.95] wish to hover around you.
[03:06.63] Lady, we will gaze at the sea,
[03:07.32] and watch those stormy waves.
[03:08.00]



All comments from YouTube:

Betty Feldfeber

She's bringing back nostalgic bliss! Love her so much, and surely miss her. 😔

yudi anjangsana

Hello, this is from Indonesia. I am a loyal fan of Teresa Teng. She is the best of all and will be so forever. Wonderful voice of hers.

Colin Chan

Beautiful voice never gets tired hearing her songs

Mielli

I love this song very much and it brings back my memories as a kid.

Tiziano Vian

Hello Emily! Please tell me more about your memories

Stanley Man

Instantly I love this song when I first heard it.

michelle nguyen

Underrated song <3

老音樂選擇

I don't speak Japanese, but you can hear the emotion behind her songs. I love Teresa Teng so much.

Genebra Lancelote

It's chinese.

Tony

It's Chinese dude . Hahaha

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