The River
Victoria Shaw Lyrics


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You know a dream is like a river
Ever changin' as it flows
And a dreamer's just a vessel
That must follow where it goes
Trying to learn from what's behind you
And never knowing what's in store
Makes each day a constant battle
Just to stay between the shores
And I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry
Like a bird upon the wind
These waters are my sky
I'll never reach my destination
If I never try
So I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry
Too many times we stand aside
And let the waters slip away
'Til what we put off 'til tomorrow
It has now become today
So don't you sit upon the shoreline
And say you're satisfied
Choose to chance the rapids
And dare to dance that tide
And I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry
Like a bird upon the wind
These waters are my sky
I'll never reach my destination
If I never try
So I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry
There's bound to be rough waters
And I know I'll tke soome falls
With the good Lord as my captain
I can make it through them all
And I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry
Like a bird upon the wind
These waters are my sky
I'll never reach my destination
If I never try
So I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry
Lord, I will sail my vessel




'Til the river runs dry
Yeah

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Victoria Shaw's song, The River, convey a powerful message about following one's dreams and taking risks. Throughout the song, Shaw uses water metaphors to illustrate the fluidity of life and the importance of never giving up on one's aspirations. The first verse sets the stage for the song's message, stating that dreams are always changing and that dreamers are simply vessels who follow the flow of their aspirations. The second verse urges listeners to learn from the past but not dwell on it, as the present is a constant battle between taking chances and staying within one's comfort zone.


In the chorus, Shaw declares that she will continue to sail her vessel until the river runs dry, emphasizing her commitment to pursuing her dreams. The metaphor of the bird on the wind is particularly telling, as it shows how Shaw feels when she is following her dreams – free, unbound, and limitless. In the third verse, Shaw cautions that there will be rough patches in the journey, but with the support of a higher power, one can persevere through anything.


Overall, The River is a song about taking risks, embracing change, and remaining steadfast in the pursuit of one's dreams. It encourages listeners to learn from the past, live in the present, and believe in the future. Ultimately, the song's message is one of hope and determination, reminding us that if we keep sailing, we can get to our destination.


Line by Line Meaning

You know a dream is like a river
Dreams can constantly change, much like the never-ending flow of a river


Ever changin' as it flows
Constantly changing as it continues to move and flow


And a dreamer's just a vessel
A dreamer is simply a vessel, a carrier of their dreams


That must follow where it goes
A dreamer must follow their dreams, wherever it leads them


Trying to learn from what's behind you
Looking back at your past experiences and trying to learn from them


And never knowing what's in store
Despite not knowing what the future holds


Makes each day a constant battle
Every day can be a struggle


Just to stay between the shores
To stay on track and not lose sight of your dreams


And I will sail my vessel
The artist will continue to pursue their dreams


'Til the river runs dry
Until there's no more life left to keep chasing dreams


Like a bird upon the wind
Free, soaring and exploring possibilities


These waters are my sky
The possibilities and opportunities offered are vast just like the sky


I'll never reach my destination
The singer may never reach his final goal


If I never try
It won't be possible to achieve the goal without taking the necessary risks


So I will sail my vessel
The singer will continue to pursue his dream


Too many times we stand aside
All too often, we let opportunities slip away


And let the waters slip away
We don't make use of the opportunities presented to us


'Til what we put off 'til tomorrow
We keep delaying things, assuming we'll have time in the future


It has now become today
Only to realize that tomorrow never comes and what you put off has now become your present day


So don't you sit upon the shoreline
Don't just stand on the fringes without diving in and trying


And say you're satisfied
Don't be content with things as they are


Choose to chance the rapids
Take a chance on the uncertainties


And dare to dance that tide
Embrace and engage in what the future holds


There's bound to be rough waters
The journey is not always an easy one


And I know I'll tke soome falls
The singer will experience setbacks and failures along the way


With the good Lord as my captain
With God on my side, I'll be able to navigate through anything


I can make it through them all
I can overcome any obstacle or challenge presented to me


Lord, I will sail my vessel
The artist makes a commitment to keep pursuing his dream


'Til the river runs dry
Until the end of his journey


Yeah
Expression of enthusiasm and determination




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Garth Brooks, Victoria Shaw

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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