River
Robert Downey Jr. Lyrics
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They're cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on
But it don't snow here
It stays pretty green
Then I'm going to quit this crazy scene
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
I wish I had a river I could skate away on
I made my baby cry
She tried hard to help me
You know, she put me at ease
And she loved me so naughty
Made me weak in the knees
Oh, 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
I wish I had a river I could skate away on
Oh, 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 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
The lyrics of Robert Downey Jr.'s song "River" describe the singer's longing to escape from the trappings of Christmas and his current life. He describes the traditional preparations for Christmas such as cutting down trees and putting up reindeer, but his yearning for a simpler life in nature prompts him to wish for a river he could skate away on. The repeated wish for a river highlights the singer's feelings of entrapment and his desire to break away from his current situation.
The lyrics also reveal the singer's personal struggles, where he talks about making a lot of money but being unhappy with his life, and how his actions have caused his relationship with his partner to fall apart. Despite this, the singer seems to be unable to change his ways and is left to contemplate his mistakes during the holiday season.
Overall, "River" is a melancholic take on the holiday season, depicting the struggles of people who may not feel joy in the traditional celebrations and are longing for a simpler existence.
Line by Line Meaning
It's coming on Christmas
The holiday season is approaching
They're cutting down trees
People are getting Christmas trees
They're putting up reindeer
Christmas decorations are going up, including reindeer decorations
And singing songs of joy and peace
People are singing cheerful and peaceful holiday songs
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on
The artist feels overwhelmed by the holiday season and wishes to escape
But it don't snow here
The singer is in a place where it doesn't snow during the holiday season
It stays pretty green
The area is still lush with vegetation despite the holiday season
I'm going to make a lot of money
The artist has plans to earn a significant amount of money
Then I'm going to quit this crazy scene
The artist wants to leave his current situation behind and start anew
I wish I had a river so long
The artist longs for a peaceful escape, represented by a long river to skate on
I would teach my feet to fly
The singer wants to be free and able to soar away using his own strength
I made my baby cry
The artist hurt his loved one and caused her to cry
She tried hard to help me
The singer's partner made an effort to assist him
You know, she put me at ease
The partner provided comfort to the singer
And she loved me so naughty
The partner expressed her love and passion for the singer
Made me weak in the knees
The partner's love for the artist was intense and powerful
I'm so hard to handle
The artist admits to being difficult to deal with
I'm selfish and I'm sad
The singer acknowledges his negative qualities
Now I've gone and lost the best baby
The singer lost his loved one due to his issues
That I ever had
The loved one was the most important person to the artist
I wish I had a river I could skate away on
The artist still wishes to escape and find peace
I made my baby say goodbye
The artist's actions caused his partner to leave him
Oh, I wish I had a river
The singer's desire for escape is reiterated
I could skate away on
Skating away on a river symbolizes the peaceful escape the artist longs for
Lyrics © Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: Joni Mitchell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind