Rivers
shut up and drive Lyrics
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Fill your pockets with stone
Throw your arms around me
Never let me go
You were the first, you wouldn't be the last
What the river took, we could never replace
And as the pain set in so did the realisation
For nights we lay awake
Wishing for answers, hoping against all hope
And if love could change the course of fate
These nights, we move mountains
But as the news filtered down the line, the impact shook us
Shook us to the core
Loss struck like a dagger in our aching hearts
Follow your heart to the water
Fill your pockets with stone
Throw your arms around me
Never let me go
It's not the years in your life, it's the life in your years
Old soul, so it's said
The day we lost is the day I found regret
Now in the waters that embraced you
But in the wake your absence left
Sink into me
Hold out your hands, sink into me
Hold out your hands, I'll take you away
Hold out your hands, surrender the weight of this world
Follow your heart to the water
Fill your pockets with stone
Throw your arms around me
Never let me go
Never let me go
The song "Rivers" by Shut Up and Drive explores the theme of grief and loss, specifically the aftermath of losing someone in a tragic way. The opening stanza sets the tone for the rest of the song, using powerful imagery of "water" and "stone" to reflect the heaviness of the situation. The singer is pleading for their loved one to stay with them, using the refrain "throw your arms around me, never let me go" to emphasize their desperation.
As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the loved one has already passed away. The line "what the river took, we could never replace" shows that the cause of death was likely drowning, and the line "the impact shook us to the core" emphasizes how deeply the tragedy has affected those left behind. The second stanza also reveals that the singer is struggling with regret, feeling as though they should have done more to prevent the tragedy. The line "the day we lost is the day I found regret" is particularly poignant, as it suggests that the singer didn't fully appreciate the time they had with their loved one until it was too late.
The outro of the song takes a turn towards the mystical, with the line "sink into me" sounding almost like a prayer. This final stanza suggests that the singer is hoping to use their memories of their loved one to find some sort of inner peace, and to "surrender the weight of this world." Overall, "Rivers" is a beautiful and heart-wrenching song that captures the complex emotions of grief with precision and grace.
Line by Line Meaning
Follow your heart to the water
Listen to your intuition and head towards the water
Fill your pockets with stone
Collect heavy souvenirs to remind you of your journey
Throw your arms around me
Embrace those you love
Never let me go
Stay by my side indefinitely
You were the first, you wouldn't be the last
The first person close to us to pass, but not the last
What the river took, we could never replace
We can't make up for what the river took from us
And as the pain set in so did the realisation
As we felt the pain of our loss, we also came to a painful realization
You were never coming home
Our loved one was gone forever
For nights we lay awake
We spent many sleepless nights
Wishing for answers, hoping against all hope
Desperately seeking answers and holding onto hope no matter what
And if love could change the course of fate
If love had the power to alter fate
These nights, we move mountains
During these difficult times, we accomplished seemingly impossible things
But as the news filtered down the line, the impact shook us
As we received news of our loved one's passing, it hit us hard
Shook us to the core
It affected us deeply and fundamentally changed us
Loss struck like a dagger in our aching hearts
Our hearts were heavy with pain and grief
It's not the years in your life, it's the life in your years
The quality of your life is more important than the length of it
Old soul, so it's said
Some believe we have an old soul
The day we lost is the day I found regret
We didn't realize what we had until we lost it
Now in the waters that embraced you
Our loved one is now in the water they held dear
But in the wake your absence left
We feel the void you left behind
Sink into me
Take comfort in me
Hold out your hands, sink into me
Reach out to me and allow me to console you
Hold out your hands, I'll take you away
Let me take you away from your pain and sorrow
Hold out your hands, surrender the weight of this world
Give me your burden and let me carry it for you
Never let me go
Stay by my side forever
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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