Rivers
Tom And The Wolf Lyrics
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Got a child she's never named
She shakes a snake above her hair
Talks in tongues when there's no one there
So meet me tonight by the Red River
Where the water is clear and cold
Meet me tonight by the Red River
Look down into your soul
She's got a rosary and a rabbit's foot
A black cat bone that keeps her good
A tiger tooth and a gris-gris stick
Still it don't do the trick
So meet me tonight by the Red River
Where the water is clear and cold
Meet me tonight by the Red River
And look down into your soul
Look down into your soul
I'm gonna walk her down to gypsytown
Find the spirit queen I've seen around
Paint her body up in mud and clay
Let the river wash it all away
So meet me tonight by the Red River
Where the water is clear and cold
Meet me tonight by the Red River
And look down into your soul
Look down into your soul
Look down into your soul
The first verse of "Rivers" describes a woman who practices a variety of religious and supernatural rituals but seems to find no fulfillment in them. She has a 3D picture of Jesus and a variety of fetish objects, including a snake, a rosary, a rabbit's foot, a black cat bone, a tiger tooth, and a gris-gris stick. She also speaks in tongues when there's no one around. The second verse introduces the singer's desire to take her to "gypsytown" and help her find the "spirit queen" he's seen there. He plans to paint her body with mud and clay and then wash it away in the Red River. This suggests a desire to help her shed her old, ineffective rituals and find something more meaningful or transformative. The call to "look down into your soul" seems to suggest that this transformation will come from within rather than through external objects or practices.
Line by Line Meaning
She's got a 3D Jesus in a picture frame
She has a physical representation of her faith for display purposes
Got a child she's never named
She has a child whom she hasn't given a name to, possibly due to various reasons
She shakes a snake above her hair
She practices snake-handling, a religious ritual that involves using poisonous snakes in worship, and places them above her hair
Talks in tongues when there's no one there
She speaks in a language that isn't intelligible to those around her, indicating a possible sign of faith
So meet me tonight by the Red River
The artist is beckoning the listener to meet him by the river called Red River
Where the water is clear and cold
The river described is characterized by clear and cold waters
And look down into your soul
The singer is suggesting that the listener introspect and reflect on their own being
She's got a rosary and a rabbit's foot
She has a religious artifact in the form of a rosary and a talisman in the form of a rabbit's foot
A black cat bone that keeps her good
She possesses a black cat bone which is believed to have certain supernatural properties
A tiger tooth and a gris-gris stick
She has a tiger's tooth and a gris-gris stick (a form of voodoo amulet)
Still it don't do the trick
Despite having several artifacts, she hasn't found what she's looking for
I'm gonna walk her down to gypsytown
The artist plans to take her to Gypsytown, a place likely known for its spiritual elements
Find the spirit queen I've seen around
The singer is searching for a spiritual guide or leader whom he's seen before in Gypsytown
Paint her body up in mud and clay
The singer plans on painting the spiritual guide's body with mud and clay for certain rituals
Let the river wash it all away
After the ritual, they will let the river wash off the mud and clay
Look down into your soul
The artist reiterates his previous line, urging the listener to introspect
Look down into your soul
The song ends on the same note as the previous line, urging the listener to look introspectively
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: THOMAS EARL PETTY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind