The Riverside began as a project with Jake Jeanson (lead vocals, guitar) an… Read Full Bio ↴The Riverside began as a project with Jake Jeanson (lead vocals, guitar) and Matt Day (bass, vocals) in Santa Barbara, California while the two were studying at Westmont College. While still performing under the name Jake Jeanson, the band won the 2012 Santa Barbara Battle of the Bands and quickly gained popularity throughout Southern California. Leaving his dream of becoming a solo artist behind, Jeanson chose to change the name of the band to The Riverside, which is representative of the nature of the band: friends from scattered lands who tell stories together and long for the simple life by the riverside. The band now consists of ten members.

With influences ranging from artists such as Johnny Cash, The Beatles, Ray La Montagne, and Bob Dylan, The Riverside brings warm, welcoming, and honest music reminiscent of The Head and the Heart, The Lumineers, and The Civil Wars.

Starry Night
the riverside Lyrics

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I belong to the starry night
Crossing rivers in my cold bare feet
With the wolves and the howling light
Hear my call, it′s sounding fleet

I dug it up from a well
I heard you make all the diamonds
And it hurts like hell

And I don't know if I can trust you well

I belong to the starry night
Following the crickets′ chirp 'til dawn
And if the morn shall rise it'll be a sight
You welcome me in as I push you out

It feels like fire in my eyes
Waking up in the daybreak
And it hurts like hell
I still don′t know if I can trust you well

And it hurts like hell
And I don′t know if I can trust you well

Oh it hurts like hell
I still don't know if I can trust you

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of “Starry Night” conjure vivid nocturnal imagery where the singer leaves the human world and ventures out into nature on a dark, starry night. The idea of crossing rivers with “cold bare feet” highlights the character's vulnerability and the thought of the howling wolves suggest their loneliness in life. The phrase “Hear my call, it’s sounding fleet” represents the urgency they have to leave this existence behind and embrace the wild, untamed life.

The second verse takes a more significant turn, where the singer speaks about seeing diamonds, which represents the shiny and artificial things in human life. However, as the singer digs deep into this, they realize the pain that comes along with it. There is a constant tension and dilemma of whether they can trust this life again. The third verse brings out the contrast between the peace they find at night and the never-ending chaos that comes with the day. They yearn for nothing but the calm and alluring darkness, even if that brings pain to their eyes.

Overall, the song captures the way we are often torn between the joys and sorrows of life. It highlights that we find comfort and solace in the unbound and unapologetic facets of existence, yet we continue to experience trauma and unpredictability in life.

Line by Line Meaning

I belong to the starry night
I feel a strong connection to the night sky and its beauty.

Crossing rivers in my cold bare feet
I am journeying through difficult times and am vulnerable to the elements.

With the wolves and the howling light
I am accompanied by creatures of the night and the eerie glow of the moon.

Hear my call, it's sounding fleet
I am calling out for help or guidance, and my message is urgent.

I dug it up from a well
I have unearthed a deep truth or realization.

I heard you make all the diamonds
I have heard that you are responsible for creating beauty and value in the world.

And it hurts like hell
This realization is painful and difficult to come to terms with.

And I don't know if I can trust you well
I am unsure if I can rely on this discovery or if it will lead me to deceive or betray myself or others.

Following the crickets' chirp 'til dawn
I am journeying through the night and listening for guidance from the natural world.

And if the morn shall rise it'll be a sight
If I make it through the darkness, the light of day will be a glorious sight to behold.

You welcome me in as I push you out
As I leave behind the darkness and enter the light, I may have to distance myself from those who are still in the shadows.

It feels like fire in my eyes
This realization or journey is intense and overwhelming.

Waking up in the daybreak
As I leave the night behind, I am experiencing a renewal or rebirth.

Oh it hurts like hell
The pain and difficulty of this journey or realization is still present.

I still don't know if I can trust you
I am still uncertain if this discovery or journey is ultimately trustworthy or beneficial.

Writer(s): David Farrell

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

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