After the release of some EPs and singles, the group signed with Merge Records who released their second album, Long Goodbye, in 2003. After a world tour, they headed back to the studio in fall of 2005 to begin work on their third album, Cannibal Sea, which was released in March of 2006.
Sorry River
The Essex Green Lyrics
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Drain our heaven, make it fall from the sky
How could you let us run dry?
And when did the somersault turn?
Throwing us over, on another shoulder, watching our future unwind
Oh the sorry river
Fly your most convenient flight of all
I fooled you just to trick myself, now this water's
Flowing somewhere else...
Somewhere else
So cross us off your list
And leave your guilt at the Chinese laundry, man you got a granted wish
And now as we go our own way
And fade this scene like a cinema story, no more turns today
No more turns today
No more...today
Oh the sorry river
Turned a sorry trickle
Fly your most convenient flight of all
I fooled you just to trick myself, noe this water's
Flowing somwhere else...
Somewhere else
The Essex Green's song "Sorry River" is a contemplative and melancholic reflection on a relationship that has ended. The lyrics suggest that the singer feels like they have been abandoned and left to dry up like a river. The first verse is accusatory in tone, questioning why the other individual let the relationship run dry and allowed their "heaven" to fall from the sky. The song then takes a turn from an accusatory approach to one of introspection as the singer begins to reflect on the moments that led to the end.
The chorus of the song, "the sorry river turned to a sorry trickle," suggests that the relationship has dwindled to a sad and regrettable state. The singer seems to express remorse at the situation, stating "I fooled you just to trick myself." It is unclear whether this relates to the end of the relationship or something else, but the line suggests that the singer may have caused the relationship to falter. The song concludes, "Now this water's flowing somewhere else...somewhere else," indicating that the singer has moved on and accepted that the relationship has come to its end.
Overall, "Sorry River" deals with the emotions of disappointment, heartache, and regret in a contemplative and emotive way. The song suggests that relationships are complex and often fall apart due to misunderstandings, miscommunication, and a lack of willingness to compromise.
Line by Line Meaning
How could you let us run dry?
Asking how you could have allowed us to suffer and have our happiness taken away from us.
Drain our heaven, make it fall from the sky
You stripped us of our bliss and let our paradise crumble before our eyes.
And when did the somersault turn?
When did everything change and throw us off balance, leaving us to watch our future unravel?
Throwing us over, on another shoulder, watching our future unwind
You left us behind and put our fate in someone else's hands, causing our future to unravel.
Oh the sorry river
Expressing regret and sorrow for the situation at hand.
Turned a sorry trickle
The once abundant source has dwindled down to a sad, insignificant amount.
Fly your most convenient flight of all
Take the easy way out and leave, without considering the consequences of your actions.
I fooled you just to trick myself, now this water's flowing somewhere else...
I deceived you to deceive myself, and now the situation has changed and moved on without me.
So cross us off your list
Remove us from your plans and forget that we even existed in your mind.
And leave your guilt at the Chinese laundry, man you got a granted wish
Get rid of your guilt and burdensome thoughts like disposing laundry, you have gotten what you wished for.
And now as we go our own way
We are separating and moving on with our own lives apart from each other.
And fade this scene like a cinema story, no more turns today
Our story is ending and fading away like a movie scene, and there will be no more plot twists from now on.
No more... today
Nothing more will happen or change today.
Contributed by Joshua H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.