Like a Beach Rock revival, Shannon and the Clams take you back to a time when Judy and Johnny were your favorite worst couple, with the help of some very heartbreaking background vocals and guitar riffs of which The Beatles would be proud. Influences like The Beach Boys, The Shangri- La's, The Ronettes, and Patsy Cline shine through in songs like "When You're On", with front woman Shannon crooning like a scorned Leslie Gore, but with a rough unpolished edge inspired by the likes of The Cramps, Bad Brains, and fellow beach bum Nobunny.
In The River
Shannon and the Clams Lyrics
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She fell in the river and now she's gone
I miss her badly, I loved her so
I need some magic to bring her home
Now she's gone I miss her so
Can't see where that river goes
He said, "Boy, magic is what I know
Swallow this spider, eat this shell of black
Against the current, she'll float right back"
Now she's gone I miss her so
Can't see where that river goes
A year went by, I watched the banks
Then up the river one day she came
A giant eggshell, I looked inside
My baby lay there with a feathered hide
Now she's gone I miss her so
Can't see where that river goes
The lyrics of Shannon and The Clams's song, "In the River," convey the pain of losing a loved one and the desire to bring them back. The singer begins by warning their partner not to get lost in the river, but it is too late - she has already fallen in and is gone. The singer misses her terribly and longs to have her back in their life. They are searching for some kind of magic to bring her home.
In the next verse, the singer has sought out a witch man. The witch man tells the singer to swallow a spider and eat a shell of black, and that these actions will help to bring the lost lover back. He promises that she will float right back against the current. The singer is desperate enough to try anything and follows the instructions.
In the final verse, a year has passed and the singer has been watching the banks of the river, hoping for any sign of their lost love. One day, a giant eggshell floats towards them. As the singer looks inside, they see their baby with a feathered hide. It is unclear whether this is a hallucination brought on by the spider and shell, or if some kind of magic has actually brought their lover back.
The overall impression of the song is one of tragedy, longing, and desperation. The river represents a powerful force that can wash away even the strongest love, and the lyrics suggest that sometimes there is no way to get that love back.
Line by Line Meaning
I told my baby, "Don't you get lost"
I warned my significant other to be careful and not to get lost
She fell in the river and now she's gone
My significant other fell in the river and is no longer with me
I miss her badly, I loved her so
I feel such strong emotions of love towards her that her absence causes me great pain
I need some magic to bring her home
I eagerly desire some supernatural intervention to bring her back to me
Now she's gone I miss her so
I continue to mourn her loss and long for her return
Can't see where that river goes
I am unsure of where the river flows
I saw the witch man, I cried and moaned
I encountered a mystical being and was overcome with intense emotions
He said, "Boy, magic is what I know
The witch man reassured me that he was well-versed in the ways of magic
Swallow this spider, eat this shell of black
The witch man instructed me to consume a spider and a black shell as part of the magical ritual
Against the current, she'll float right back"
He assured me that if I followed his instructions, my significant other would return to me against the river's current
A year went by, I watched the banks
As the days went by, I remained vigilant and kept watch over the riverbanks
Then up the river one day she came
Eventually, my significant other appeared upstream
A giant eggshell, I looked inside
The vessel she arrived in was a large eggshell, which I examined closely
My baby lay there with a feathered hide
To my surprise, my significant other was inside the eggshell, covered in feathers
Contributed by Tyler I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@kimberlyann2292
I told my baby, "Don't you get lost"
She fell in the river and now she's gone
I miss her badly, I loved her so
I need some magic to bring her home
Now she's gone I miss her so
Can't see where that river goes
I saw the witch man, I cried and moaned
He said, "Boy, magic is what I know
Swallow this spider, eat this shell of black
Against the current, she'll float right back"
Now she's gone I miss her so
Can't see where that river goes
A year went by, I watched the banks
Then up the river one day she came
A giant eggshell, I looked inside
My baby lay there with a feathered hide
Now she's gone I miss her so
Can't see where that river goes
@zanechaos
My favorite shannon and the clams song
@speedygonzoles
This has to be my favorite song from them for some reason. They have a lot of great songs but this particular one has me hooked.
@rachellenhares1336
I just found this group and I'm wondering how I missed them. She has an awesome voice.
@laurengarrison9473
Rachel Lenhares same. Where have they been all my life?
@dxolmon8
I Shazamed it and it is In The River...Still a good song.
@RUNkeeprunning-cw6kx
now she's gone I miss her so!!... can't see where that river goes
@SerCatnip
Dank
@The1977Punk
So sick! If you like Shannon, listen to
Ted Duchamp - Coke Float!
Take care x
@vuskateboarder
TRE WILLIAMS brought me here. dat boi #ExtraCrispy 🐷
@antoniogomez9258
same