Riverside
Zebra Lyrics


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I never made it
I just put it off a while
Just sleepin' at the bottom of a tree with my shoes off
I never faked it
I just do it awful well
Just dreamin' of a time when I can take another day off

Because ooh, well it's got me down
By the riverside
Got me down today
Well it's got me down
By the riverside
Got me down today
I never craved it
I never do it all
I just wake up in the morning by the tree and shake the dew off
I never saved it
I just hung it out a while
I'm not leavin' with the bottom of my feet up in a U-Haul


You know you look so pitiful
Easily critical
You shouldn't be so cynical
All from the pit of your heart
Well it's cruel the way you pass me by
Well it's hard, and it's hard


Well you've got me down
By the riverside
Got me down today
Well it's got me down
By the riverside




Got me down today
By the riverside...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Zebra's song Riverside portrays the singer's state of mind whereby he is looking for an escape from life's daily struggles. He talks about how he has not yet achieved what he envisioned for himself, how he has only been procrastinating and dreaming of a day to take off. The first verse goes on to say how the singer is not faking it, he just does it extremely well, indicating that he is not deliberately failing at achieving his goals. The second verse talks about how the singer never craved success, how he just wakes up every morning hoping to shake off the dew by the tree. He did not save much, indicating that he lived care-free, not worrying too much about the future. He ends the verse by declaring that he is not leaving with the bottom of his feet up in a U-Haul, which signifies that he is not leaving with much material possessions.


The chorus indicates that the singer is feeling low and that the Riverside has got him down. The repetition of the phrase, "Got me down" shows how the singer is feeling overwhelmed by some situation or his experiences. The third verse shows the singer's frustration as he talks about how he feels pitiful and how people are passing him by. He finds it hard, indicating that the situation is taking a toll on him mentally, and he is finding it hard to cope.


Line by Line Meaning

I never made it
I have never achieved my goals or dreams.


I just put it off a while
I delay taking action towards my dreams and aspirations.


Just sleepin' at the bottom of a tree with my shoes off
I am doing nothing to pursue my dreams, just lazing around.


I never faked it
I have always been true to myself and others.


I just do it awful well
Whatever I do, I do it excellently.


Just dreamin' of a time when I can take another day off
I long to have more time to myself without having to worry about work or responsibilities.


Because ooh, well it's got me down
I am feeling low or depressed.


By the riverside
The setting for my melancholy state is near a riverbank.


Got me down today
I am feeling upset or frustrated right now.


I never craved it
I have never had a strong desire for something.


I never do it all
I never give my all or my best effort in anything.


I just wake up in the morning by the tree and shake the dew off
I wake up each day and do the bare minimum to get going.


I never saved it
I never set aside or reserved anything for later use.


I just hung it out a while
I delayed putting something away or dealing with it immediately.


I'm not leavin' with the bottom of my feet up in a U-Haul
I will not leave this place with all my possessions in a moving truck, indicating that I have not accumulated much in life.


You know you look so pitiful
You appear sad or pathetic to me.


Easily critical
You are quick to find fault with others.


You shouldn't be so cynical
You should not be so distrustful or negative about everything.


All from the pit of your heart
Your cynicism and criticism come from a place of deep-seated negativity within yourself.


Well it's cruel the way you pass me by
You treat me unkindly or unfairly by disregarding my presence or my feelings.


Well it's hard, and it's hard
Life is difficult and presents many challenges.


By the riverside
The ongoing struggles I face continue in the same location as before.


Got me down today
I am still feeling upset or frustrated in my current situation.




Contributed by Hailey J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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