Mersey Paradise
The Stone Roses Lyrics


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River splashes against the rocks
And I scale a slope I hope the tracks won't
Lead me down to dark black pits or
Places where we fall to bits
If she were there I'd hold her down
I'll push her under while she drowns and
Couldn't breathe and call for air
She doesn't care for my despair
Or is it me?
Or the one that's wrong
You see it in the sea
River cool's where I belong
In my Mersey paradise
As I stare an oil wheel comes
Sailing by and I feel like
Growing fins and falling in
With the bricks, the bikes, the rusty tin I'll
Swim along without a care
I'm eating sand when I need air you can
Bet your life I'll meet a Pike who'll
Wolf me down for tea tonight
I want to be
Where the drownings are
You see it in the sea
River cools where I belong
In my Mersey paradise
I want to be
Where the drownings are
You see it in the sea
River cools where I belong
Oh yeah
I want to be
Where the drownings are
You see it in the sea




River cools where I belong
In my Mersey paradise

Overall Meaning

The Stone Roses's song "Mersey Paradise" is a melancholy yet euphoric exploration of the singer's inner conflicts and desires as he traverses along the Mersey River. The lyrics are full of vivid imagery of the river splashing against the rocks and the singer scaling a slope, hoping to avoid the pits and places where they fall to bits. That sense of danger and uncertainty is further amplified by the lines, "If she were there I'd hold her down, push her under while she drowns, and couldn't breathe and call for air. She doesn't care for my despair, or is it me? Or the one that's wrong."


The singer's obsession with drowning and being where the drownings are is an interesting thematic element that runs through the song. It's almost as if the singer seeks some sort of catharsis or release from his inner turmoil through the physical act of drowning. Lines like "In my Mersey paradise" suggest that the river serves as a sort of utopia or ideal place for him to be.


Overall, "Mersey Paradise" is a beautiful and thought-provoking song that showcases The Stone Roses's ability to craft intricate lyrics that explore complex emotional landscapes.


Line by Line Meaning

River splashes against the rocks
The river's water hits the rocks forcefully


And I scale a slope I hope the tracks won't
I climb a hill, hoping the path doesn't lead me to dangerous places


Lead me down to dark black pits or Places where we fall to bits
I fear going to places where we may lose ourselves


If she were there I'd hold her down I'll push her under while she drowns and Couldn't breathe and call for air She doesn't care for my despair Or is it me?
If the person I love were present, I may be compelled to harm her. I feel like she never cares about my misery, but maybe it's just me.


Or the one that's wrong You see it in the sea River cool's where I belong In my Mersey paradise
Maybe it's not her fault, maybe it's mine. The river brings me comfort and is where I belong.


As I stare an oil wheel comes Sailing by and I feel like Growing fins and falling in With the bricks, the bikes, the rusty tin I'll Swim along without a care I'm eating sand when I need air you can Bet your life I'll meet a Pike who'll Wolf me down for tea tonight
Watching the oil wheel pass by, I feel a sudden urge to jump into the river and dive in. I swim with no fear even though I'm eating sand, and I know I'll probably be consumed by a pike later.


I want to be Where the drownings are You see it in the sea River cools where I belong In my Mersey paradise
I long to be where others drown because it's where I feel at peace, and this is my paradise.


I want to be Where the drownings are You see it in the sea River cools where I belong Oh yeah I want to be Where the drownings are You see it in the sea River cools where I belong In my Mersey paradise
I repeat my desire to be where others drown because it's where I am happiest in the river, my Mersey paradise.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@MarceloFarias

The Stone Roses - Mersey Paradise (Lyrics)

River splashes against the rocks
And I scale a slope I hope the tracks won't
Lead me down to dark black pits or
Places where we fall to bits
If she were there I'd hold her down
I'll push her under while she drowns and
Couldn't breathe and call for air
She doesn't care for my despair
Or is it me?
Or the one that's wrong
You see it in the sea
River cool's where I belong
In my Mersey paradise
As I stare an oil wheel comes
Sailing by and I feel like
Growing fins and falling in
With the bricks, the bikes, the rusty tin I'll
Swim along without a care
I'm eating sand when I need air you can
Bet your life I'll meet a Pike who'll
Wolf me down for tea tonight
I want to be
Where the drownings are
You see it in the sea
River cools where I belong
In my Mersey paradise
I want to be
Where the drownings are
You see it in the sea
River cools where I belong
Oh yeah
I want to be
Where the drownings are
You see it in the sea
River cools where I belong
In my Mersey paradise



@ivanviti404

River splashes against the rocks
And I scale a slope I hope the tracks won't
Lead me down to dark black pits or
Places where we fall to bits
If she were there I'd hold her down
I'll push her under while she drowns and
Couldn't breathe and call for air
She doesn't care for my despair
Or is it me?
Or the one that's wrong
You see it in the sea
River cool's where I belong
In my Mersey paradise
As I stare an oil wheel comes
Sailing by and I feel like
Growing fins and falling in
With the bricks, the bikes, the rusty tin I'll
Swim along without a care
I'm eating sand when I need air you can
Bet your life I'll meet a Pike who'll
Wolf me down for tea tonight
I want to be
Where the drownings are
You see it in the sea
River cools where I belong
In my Mersey paradise
I want to be
Where the drownings are
You see it in the sea
River cools where I belong
Oh yeah
I want to be
Where the drownings are
You see it in the sea
River cools where I belong
In my Mersey paradise



@gonejegory3345

I used to wonder why the Roses were singing about Mersey Paradise till my mate said, no you pillock, the river mersey runs through south manchester and there are fields and you can get away from all the shite! I used to think Ian was singing Liverpool is where I belong, but the lyric is River's cool where I belong. Here's the lyrics! Mersey Paradise Lyrics

River splashes against the rocks

And I scale a slope, I hope the tracks won't
Lead me down to dark black pits
Or places where we fall to bits
If she were there I'd hold her down
I'll push her under while she drowns
And couldn't breathe and call for air
She doesn't care for my despair

Or is it me?
Or the one that's wrong
You see it in the sea
River Cool's where I belong
In my Mersey paradise
As I stare an oil wheel comes
Sailing by, and I feel like
Growing fins and falling in
With the bricks, the bikes, the rusty tin
I'll swim along without a care
I'm eating sand when I need air
You can bet your life I'll meet a pike
Who'll wolf me down for tea tonight

I want to be (I want to be)
Where the drownings are (drownings are)
You see it in the sea
River Cool's where I belong
In my Mersey paradise

I want to be (I want to be)
Where the drownings are (drownings are)
You see it in the sea
River Cool's where I belong
Oh, yeah

I want to be (I want to be)
Where the drownings are (drownings are)
You see it in the sea
River Cool's where I belong
In my Mersey paradise



@meruto5677

River splashes against the rocks
And I scale a slope I hope the tracks won't
Lead me down to dark black pits or
Places where we fall to bits
If she were there I'd hold her down
I'll push her under while she drowns and
Couldn't breathe and call for air
She doesn't care for my despair
Or is it me?
Or the one that's wrong
You see it in the sea
River cool's where I belong
In my Mersey paradise
As I stare an oil wheel comes
Sailing by and I feel like
Growing fins and falling in
With the bricks, the bikes, the rusty tin I'll
Swim along without a care
I'm eating sand when I need air you can
Bet your life I'll meet a Pike who'll
Wolf me down for tea tonight
I want to be
Where the drownings are
You see it in the sea
River cools where I belong
In my Mersey paradise
I want to be
Where the drownings are
You see it in the sea
River cools where I belong
Oh yeah
I want to be
Where the drownings are
You see it in the sea
River cools where I belong
In my Mersey paradise



@meruto5677

River splashes against the rocks
And I scale a slope I hope the tracks won't
Lead me down to dark black pits or
Places where we fall to bits
If she were there I'd hold her down
I'll push her under while she drowns and
Couldn't breathe and call for air
She doesn't care for my despair
Or is it me?
Or the one that's wrong
You see it in the sea
River cool's where I belong
In my Mersey paradise
As I stare an oil wheel comes
Sailing by and I feel like
Growing fins and falling in
With the bricks, the bikes, the rusty tin I'll
Swim along without a care
I'm eating sand when I need air you can
Bet your life I'll meet a Pike who'll
Wolf me down for tea tonight
I want to be
Where the drownings are
You see it in the sea
River cools where I belong
In my Mersey paradise
I want to be
Where the drownings are
You see it in the sea
River cools where I belong
Oh yeah
I want to be
Where the drownings are
You see it in the sea
River cools where I belong
In my Mersey paradise



All comments from YouTube:

@Abegoldhatch

You can’t realise how much I love this band… . I ADORE THEM ❤

@JamieGclass222

they wanna they wanna they wanna be adored

@al_5655

There's something really lovely about saying a place is where you belong. One of my fave Roses tracks

@paulbryan9276

River cool ?

@ajaxt9333

I first heard this song on a compilation cassette from my girlfriend in 1989, being from Manchester I couldn't believe how good they sounded with the jangle guitars and songs full of swagger. Unreal memories

@lfcforever1482

Why so little views? This is one of the best Roses songs!! Top vocals from Ian too!!

@johnreid8851

I'm in Liverpool now in rehab.roses are boss as scouters would say.

@lfcforever1482

@Arne Nilsen if you think it should be unpopular then why are you here listening to it ? :|
and fyi the roses were popular and this song was popular, it’s just not got many views on youtube...

@gr_-bc4cf

@lfcforever there are other re-uploaded versions of this song on youtube which have more views than this one

@spacerebel23

@John Reid just got or kicked out of one last week for smoking straights . This was in Loughborough. I freaking Adore the Roses. Good luck on your sobriety

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