The River
Tim and Jeff Buckley Lyrics
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And I hide my house away
Then just like the river
I can change my ways
Oh, if you come to love me
You would stay forever
Inside my heart
Inside my dreams
In time we'll love
In the street we walk as beggars
In the alley faithless kings
Ah, but it's the truth of life
That chains us in between
Those lost moments we steal
To keep our love alive
And our prize so tired after all the pain
And time will fade
In time we'll love
The lyrics of Tim and Jeff Buckley's "The River" explore love and the changes that occur within oneself when in love. It begins with the singer stating that they live by the river and hide their house away, comparing themselves to the river which can change its ways. The singer then states that if someone were to love them, they would stay forever within their heart and dreams. The second verse describes the struggles of life, with the singer mentioning beggars and faithless kings in the street and alley. The truth of life, according to the singer, is that love chains us in between these moments that we attempt to steal to keep the love alive. The prize of love can be tiring after all the pain, but eventually, time fades and we love.
Overall, the song seems to be about the ups and downs of love and the effects it has on us as individuals. The river, which is referenced in the opening lines, can be seen as symbolic of the changes we go through when we are in love. The lyrics also touch on the struggles and realities of life, which can make love difficult but also a necessary escape.
Line by Line Meaning
I live by the river
I reside close to the water body
And I hide my house away
My house is concealed from plain sight
Then just like the river
Similar to the characteristics of the water body
I can change my ways
I am capable of transformative change
Oh, if you come to love me
If you begin to develop affection for me
You would stay forever
Your bond with me would be everlasting
Inside my heart
Emotionally within me
Inside my dreams
In my subconscious thoughts
And time will fade
The memory of the past will lose vibrancy
In time we'll love
Eventually we will develop affection
In the street we walk as beggars
We travel in public as poor individuals
In the alley faithless kings
Located in backstreets without loyalty or fealty
Ah, but it's the truth of life
It is an undeniable fact of living
That chains us in between
Which confines us in the middle of necessary aspects of life
Those lost moments we steal
Moments we lose that we attempt to salvage
To keep our love alive
To maintain our connection and emotion
And our prize so tired after all the pain
Our reward is fatigued after an extensive suffering period
And time will fade
The memory will lose intensity over time
In time we'll love
Affection will come with time
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BENJI MADDEN, DON GILMORE, JOEL MADDEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tomas Horn
I live by the river and I hide my house away
Then just like the river, I can change my ways
Oh, if you come to love me, you'll stay forever
Inside my heart, inside my dreams
And time will fade, in time we'll love
In the street we walk as beggars, in the alley, faithless kings
Ah, but it's the truth of life that chains us in between
Those lost moments we steal to keep our love alive
And our prize, so tired after all the pain
And time will fade, in time we'll love
I live by the river and I hide my house away
Then just like the river, I can change my ways
Oh, if you come to love me, you'll stay forever
Inside my heart, inside my dreams
And time will fade, in time we'll love
decimal point
Tim Buckley is a hidden gem of the past. I’ve listened to several songs and I’m hooked.
Burt472
Not past anymore everytime we listen to him...A greeting from Italy
Martha Diaz
The lyrics to this song are astoundingly beautiful, not to mention profound. I feel like Tim Buckley had this purity that 99.999 of musicians of the last century didn't have. It's like he's in a category of his own. I feel like he embodied the life behind his songs, that his singing was actually a pouring out of something real in his life. Most singers sing because they can, or because they want to, or because they want the glory. But with Tim (and Jeff), that was their ontology, so they did it.
LadyStonecut
Have to say both Father and Son stand on there own in their own talent! Both very passionate and gifted.
Art Redoubt
This song and the entire album has brought me back from the brink on a number of occasions.
Warren Wilson
This song is so powerful. The depth of Tims voice and the musicians backing create an awesome production. If you cant be moved by this you are not alive. :)
Missy Ondine
The painting by Lawson and this Buckley song form a perfect impressionistic unity, Tim's urgent vocals and the mysterious sounds of the vibraphone make you almost want to go into the painting.
Keith Turner
I saw him in london back in the day, the greatest singer ever, pure beautiful genius, no one has ever come near him, no one.
Jeff Sartain
You are lucky to have seen him in person.
JerseyGirl
Idea Engine I would say so too‼️ Love Jeff❣️