Wild Rivers is an indie folk band based in Toronto, Ontario. The group, for… Read Full Bio ↴Wild Rivers is an indie folk band based in Toronto, Ontario. The group, formed in 2015, was born out of Devan and Khalid, the duo that has experienced much success since they first met in Kingston in 2012. Devan Glover and Khalid Yassein have perfected their special musical chemistry, and continue making folk music together. The lead single, No Ribbons, from their debut EP This Town, enjoyed national radio airplay and led to the two being voted Toronto's Best New Artist in the 2015 CBC Searchlight contest. Now based out of Toronto, Devan and Khalid have added Oakville natives Ben Labenski (drums), and Andrew Oliver (bass, guitar), and have become Wild Rivers. Their self-titled debut album was released on April 16, 2016.

Don't
Wild Rivers Lyrics

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Late night driving with my arm around your shoulder
We're not waking up your roommate so we’re coming through the back door
And I’m so okay now and I hardly ever think about her
Feels like we’ve been doing this longer than we have

This feels like a safe place
But I’m still kinda changing
If I don’t stop this train it’s going on and on and on

I thought time would change it but it won't
And there’s no good reason I should go
‘Cause I’m not much better on my own
But you know when you know and I don’t
You can’t pull water out of stone
And I can’t say anything went wrong
And it kills me leaving you alone
But you know when you know and I don’t

It’s a hard conversation that I’ve almost come to terms with
And I met your mom and brother and I know they really liked me
I wanna move across the country, not worry about calling
‘Cause I've seen the way this goes and I don’t wanna go there

This is gonna cut you
But I still kinda love you
But if I do this right it'll be alright, right?

I thought time would change it but it won't
And there’s no good reason I should go
‘Cause I’m not much better on my own
But you know when you know and I don’t
You can’t pull water out of stone
And I can’t say anything went wrong
And it kills me leaving you alone
But you know when you know and I

I don't wanna stop but I'm gonna walk away
‘Cause I know we're better off and someone's gotta say it
So I'm gonna cut this off before you waste four years just waiting

I thought time would change it but it won't
And there’s no good reason I should go
‘Cause I’m not much better on my own
But you know when you know and I don’t
You can’t pull water out of stone
And I can’t say anything went wrong

And it kills me leaving you alone
But you know when you know and I don’t

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Wild Rivers's song "Don't" depict a complicated and difficult situation in a relationship. The singer is in a new relationship, but still carries emotional baggage from a previous one. They find solace in their current partner and consider it a safe place, but they are aware that they are still changing and unsure about their future. The singer acknowledges their love for their current partner, but they believe that if they don't make the difficult decision to end the relationship, it will continue on an uncertain path and potentially hurt both of them in the long run. Despite the pain of leaving their partner alone, they recognize that their current partner knows what they want and need more than they do.

The lyrics explore themes of personal growth, self-awareness, and the difficulty of making tough decisions in relationships. The singer is grappling with their own emotions and desires, recognizing the consequences their actions may have on their partner. They question whether time will heal their internal conflicts and ultimately decide that it won't. The song also touches on the fear of being alone and the hesitancy to hurt someone they care about, even if it means sacrificing their own happiness.

Overall, "Don't" is a poignant and introspective exploration of the complexities of love, personal growth, and the difficult decisions we sometimes have to make for our own well-being and the well-being of others.

Line by Line Meaning

Late night driving with my arm around your shoulder
We spend intimate, late nights together, driving with me holding you close

We're not waking up your roommate so we’re coming through the back door
We're being sneaky and avoiding waking up your roommate by entering through the back door

And I’m so okay now and I hardly ever think about her
I have moved on from my past relationship and rarely think about my ex

Feels like we’ve been doing this longer than we have
Our connection feels deep and meaningful, as if we've been together for a longer time

This feels like a safe place
Being with you feels safe and comforting

But I’m still kinda changing
However, I am still going through personal changes and growth

If I don’t stop this train it’s going on and on and on
If I don't put an end to this relationship, it will continue indefinitely

I thought time would change it but it won't
I believed that time would heal the issues in our relationship, but it hasn't

And there’s no good reason I should go
There is no valid justification for me to leave

‘Cause I’m not much better on my own
Because I don't feel significantly happier or better when I'm alone

But you know when you know and I don’t
You have a certainty about our relationship that I lack

You can’t pull water out of stone
It is impossible to change something that is inherently unchangeable

And I can’t say anything went wrong
I can't pinpoint any specific flaws or mistakes in our relationship

And it kills me leaving you alone
It pains me to imagine leaving you and being apart

It’s a hard conversation that I’ve almost come to terms with
I have almost accepted that I need to have a difficult conversation with you

And I met your mom and brother and I know they really liked me
I have met your family and I am aware that they genuinely enjoyed my company

I wanna move across the country, not worry about calling
I desire to relocate far away and not be burdened with the obligation of frequent communication

‘Cause I've seen the way this goes and I don’t wanna go there
I have witnessed the pattern of how relationships like ours end, and I want to avoid that outcome

This is gonna cut you
Breaking up with you will cause you emotional pain

But I still kinda love you
Even though we need to break up, I still have some lingering feelings of love for you

But if I do this right it'll be alright, right?
However, if I handle the breakup properly, everything will eventually be okay, won't it?

I don't wanna stop but I'm gonna walk away
I don't want to end things, but I have made the decision to leave

‘Cause I know we're better off and someone's gotta say it
I believe that we will both be happier apart, and someone needs to express that

So I'm gonna cut this off before you waste four years just waiting
Therefore, I am going to end our relationship before you spend four years waiting for something that won't happen

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KHALID YASSEIN, ROBYN DELL UNTO

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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