Ohio River
The Floyds Lyrics


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(butch walker & chrystina lloree)

When I woke up in the morning my lover was gone.
I had a voice in my head 20 feet long.
Ohio river's where you need to go.
That's where they took a jump to save their soul.

The banks are sketchy and they're covered in clay.
So be careful where you walk and be careful what you say.
'cause the people are listening to everything you do.
And they wont think twice about sinking you.


This is where we hide.
Down on the bottom, down on the bottom.
Well the water is kinda zoomy and my head is full of mud.
And the skies are always gloomy forming rainy clouds.
And the voices get closer with every step you take.
Closer to the edge, that's where you'll break.

Well your looks a little strange and you look a little red.
Were you careful where you walked?
And were you careful what you said?




Back to the river is where you need to go.
That's where I took a jump to save my soul.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Ohio River by The Floyds are full of vivid imagery and a sense of foreboding. The song starts with the singer waking up to find their lover has gone, and they have a voice in their head that seems impossibly long. The voice tells them to go to the Ohio River, where they can find salvation. However, the banks of the river are dangerous and covered in clay, and the people who live there are listening to everything that happens. The overall sense of the song is one of fear and desperation, as the singer tries to escape their problems by jumping into the river.


The Ohio River is a real river that flows through parts of Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and West Virginia. Historically, the river was an important transportation route for goods and people, and it played a key role in the development of the American Midwest. However, the river was also notorious for being polluted, and it was the site of several ecological disasters in the 20th century. It is possible that the song is referencing this environmental degradation, and the idea that the Ohio River has become a place of refuge for those who feel lost and alone.


Overall, Ohio River by The Floyds is a powerful song that evokes a sense of unease and danger. The lyrics paint a picture of a place that is both beautiful and deadly, and the singer's journey to the river is fraught with danger and uncertainty. The song is a reminder of the complex relationship between humans and the natural world, and the ways in which our actions can have long-lasting consequences.


Line by Line Meaning

When I woke up in the morning my lover was gone.
I found that my beloved had departed when I woke up in the morning.


I had a voice in my head 20 feet long.
I had an intense and persistent thought or feeling in my mind.


Ohio river's where you need to go.
The Ohio River is the destination that you should seek.


That's where they took a jump to save their soul.
The Ohio River is where some individuals have gone for self-redemption.


The banks are sketchy and they're covered in clay.
The riverbanks are unreliable and unstable due to being made of clay.


So be careful where you walk and be careful what you say.
One should exercise caution when walking or speaking near the river since others may be listening.


'cause the people are listening to everything you do.
Others are constantly monitoring and observing your behavior and actions.


And they wont think twice about sinking you.
These individuals are not hesitant about taking drastic or harmful measures against you.


This is where we hide, Down on the bottom, down on the bottom.
This is a place where we can conceal ourselves, in a low or inaccessible location.


Well the water is kinda zoomy and my head is full of mud.
The water is moving quickly and my mind feels muddled or confused.


And the skies are always gloomy forming rainy clouds.
The sky is often overcast and dreary, causing precipitation to form.


And the voices get closer with every step you take.
It feels like the auditory hallucinations or intrusive thoughts are getting louder or more intense as you move closer to the river.


Closer to the edge, that's where you'll break.
The closer you get to the river's edge, the more likely you are to succumb to mental or emotional distress.


Well your looks a little strange and you look a little red.
Your appearance seems unusual and you appear to be agitated or embarrassed about something.


Were you careful where you walked?
Did you exercise caution when walking near the river?


And were you careful what you said?
Did you choose your words carefully when near the river, since others may be listening?


Back to the river is where you need to go.
Returning to the Ohio River is necessary for one's personal redemption.


That's where I took a jump to save my soul.
I personally went to the Ohio River to seek self-redemption through a leap of faith.




Contributed by Gabriella V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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