She is known for the emotional sound of her ballads. Some of her most popular songs include "Angel", "Building a Mystery", "Adia", "Possession", "Fallen", "I Will Remember You", and "World on Fire". Her best-selling album to date is Surfacing, for which she won two Grammy Awards and four Juno Awards.
Her first album Touch was released in September 28, 1988, recorded in 1987-1988, Vancouver, Canada. The album received both critical and commercial success and included the hit song Vox. During this period she co-operated with Tom Ferris and Dean Russel of Moev, who discovered her as a singer. She contributed backing vocals their 1990 album Head Down and embarked on her first national concert tour as an opening act for The Grapes Of Wrath, another Tom Ferris's band.
Her second album Solace (1991) was a real breakthrough in Canada, spawning the hit singles The Path of Thorns (Terms) and Into the Fire and being certified double platinum for sales of 200,000 copies in Canada.
In 1994 her third album Fumbling Towards Ecstasy quietly became Sarah's international breakthrough, scaling the charts in a number of countries. In the United States, the album was a steady seller that stayed in the middle ranges of the pop charts for almost two years.
Sarah's fourth album Surfacing, released in 1997, brought her international success, selling over 11 million copies worldwide. Still in the spotlight from the album, Sarah launched the highly popular Lilith Fair tour, which helped launch the careers of several well-known female artists.
Her next record Afterglow came out in 2003; it contained the singles Fallen, Stupid, and World On Fire. It was her first album of new material in six years. Sarah took a few years furlough to start a family with her husband and drummer, Ashwin Sood.
Her Holiday album Wintersong came out in October 2006. The album consists of eleven new recordings of well known Christmas songs as well as seasonal favorites interpreted by Sarah. The title track Wintersong is an original work of Sarah.
McLachlan's first studio album of original material in seven years, Laws of Illusion, was released on June 15, 2010. It features 10 new songs in addition to the previously released tracks "U Want Me 2" and "Don't Give Up on Us. The first single Loving You Is Easy was released on April 23, 2010. It was followed by Forgiveness, released on June 30, 2010.
River
Sarah McLachlan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They're cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer
Singing songs of joy and peace
Oh, I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
It stays pretty green
I'm going to make a lot of money
And 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 high
Oh, 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
Oh, I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
But 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
Oh, I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly high
Oh, I wish I had a river
That 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
Singing songs of joy and peace
Oh, I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
The lyrics of the song "River" by Sarah McLachlan reflect a sense of yearning and nostalgia amidst the festive cheer of Christmas. The first verse describes the preparations for Christmas, but the singer feels out of place, as they do not have snow or the typical holiday scenery. The chorus begins with the recurring line, "Oh I wish I had a river, I could skate away on," which symbolizes a desire to escape the mundane aspects of life and seek solace in a peaceful place.
The second verse shifts focus to the singer's personal life, as they talk about wanting to make a lot of money and leave behind the chaos they are currently experiencing. The chorus repeats the same line, emphasizing the longing for something more fulfilling. The third verse delves deeper into the singer's emotions, as they have made their loved one cry and lost them. The chorus is repeated once again, suggesting that the river represents an escape not only from the physical setting but also from emotional turmoil.
Line by Line Meaning
It's coming on Christmas
The holiday season is approaching.
They're cutting down trees
People are preparing for the holiday by cutting down trees for decoration.
They're putting up reindeer
More holiday decorations are being put up such as reindeer decorations.
singing songs of joy and peace
There is a cheerful holiday mood with people singing happy songs.
Oh I wish I had a river
The artist wishes she had a way to escape her current situation.
I could skate away on
The singer imagines herself skating away from her problems and stress.
But it don't snow here
The singer's current location does not have snow which emphasizes her desire to be somewhere else.
It stays pretty green
The artist's location is lush and green which contrasts with the idea of winter and snow.
I'm going to make a lot of money
The artist has a plan to earn a lot of money which she thinks will improve her life.
And then I'm going to quit this crazy scene
The artist plans to stop her current lifestyle which she considers hectic and chaotic.
I wish I had a river so long
The singer wants a river that is long enough for her to fully escape and forget about her problems.
I would teach my feet to fly high
The artist imagines herself soaring high above her problems and the world.
I made my baby cry
The singer caused emotional pain to her loved one.
He tried hard to help me
The singer's partner attempted to support and comfort her.
You know, he put me at ease
The partner's efforts did help the singer feel better and calmer.
And he loved me so naughty
The partner expressed his love in unconventional ways.
Made me weak in the knees
The partner had a strong emotional impact on the artist.
But I'm so hard to handle
The singer acknowledges that she is difficult to manage and emotionally unstable.
I'm selfish and I'm sad
The singer describes herself as being self-centered and unhappy.
Now I've gone and lost
The artist realizes that she has lost something valuable due to her own actions.
the best baby that I ever had
The artist had a special and important relationship with her lost loved one.
I made my baby say goodbye
The artist's actions caused her loved one to leave her.
Lyrics © Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: Joni Mitchell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lynns8057
She has a voice that's pure poetry. She does Joni's song proud. Beautiful.
@laurienedvin2384
It takes courage to go to those dark, sad and painful feelings. I have fond that the honesty in the comment section are very brave and I thank them for their bravery and vulnerability. Going that deep is where the unsealed wounds are so actually there is HOPE. Because if we can access and talk about those hurts, and flush out the wounds, healing occurs and we can experience true happiness. Other kinds of pain we just learn to live with—or do the best we can. But now we have room for new experiences, change our focus and truly live life.
@kimberlywildasin3666
This song...I can't do anything without bawling...even emptying the dishwasher. Way to go, Sarah...make this Mama of 3 sob. #kudos
@sup393
One of the most beautiful Christmas songs written
@NK-cc7bq
This really is a good cover version and that’s quite rare. I can’t get why some odd people are saying it’s a ‘suicide song’. It isn’t. It’s melancholic and about being lonely at Christmas and looking back regretfully at mistakes made, feeling isolated, when everyone around you has family etc, and still wishing you were elsewhere and could have the warmth that comes from being with someone you love. If anything it’s a hopeful song, if only because the life flame is still burning within. And with that, going on is both natural and necessary.
@buttercupkong
This was never a suicide song and anyone who is a fan of Joni Mitchell ( who wrote the song) it's about her break up with Graham Nash- her one true love. Her career and their lives were changing and it didn't work out, this is her expressing her regret and love she still has for him, the River is s symbol of that and the freedom she needed. It never about dying, heart ache yes, dying no. - Amy OBrien
@Chloe-th2lg
Joni was the greatest musician and song writer of her time. Yes, regret not suicide. This entire album is a masterpiece.
@khaleeshamummery-os2qk
Thank you for such a beautiful comment I feel the same too 😢 my still born son is called River Rayyan and he will forever be engraved in my broken heart 🩵🩵🩵
@RyanRosario
It's not a suicide song. But as someone who was in that place last Christmas season, this song hits really hard. Especially that outro... It's like the joy of Christmas turned completely wrong.
@TheBlueskyson
well said NK. Agree. Merry xmas all. x