A song I dedicate unto those who share my need
To give their all, and should they fall strive on til they succeed.

Though my belly aches with hunger, weary limbs tremble and shiver
I'd rather go where waters flow, no well beside the river.

It's spur has driven some to Hell on an unbridled desire
No pain, no gain, the strongest chain's forged in the hottest fire

I pity you, who's eyes so blue have never known ambition
Yet can spit your judgment at me like some crazed, despotic queen
This dull existence merely half-life, (a glazed comatose condition)
Too scary to try, so born to die sat at your sewing machine

Discontentedly accepting all the world's prepared to give her
It's fate that she stagnates just like a well beside the river

Life's one almighty, ducking, school we've built with our own hands.
We can swim and burn or sink and drown
'cause either way we're damned.
I'm so proud to be the tupping fool, your foul, fantastic freak,
At least each moment I've spent on this earth was totally unique.

So little man with such big plans to stand upon the stage,
Why do you squabble in the dirt, you should be reaching for a star?
By far the greatest gift that I can give on making the front page,
It is: instead of punching faces why not practice your guitar.

More beauty has been composed than jealousy can tear and sliver.
Whilst troubled waters bubble, you're a well beside the river

Life's one almighty, ducking, school we've built with our own hands.
We can swim and burn or sink and drown
'cause either way we're damned.
I'm so proud to be the tupping fool, your foul, fantastic freak,
At least each moment I've spent on this earth was totally unique.

There's a dirty job I've done for all my life without
Time-off called being me.
Though the hours are long and my pay is poor, I can't resign it's
All I'm qualified to be!

Life's one almighty, ducking, school we've built with our own hands.
We can swim and burn or sink and drown
'cause either way we're damned.
I'm so proud to be the tupping fool, your foul, fantastic freak,
At least each moment I've spent on this earth was totally unique.

Though my belly aches with hunger, weary limbs tremble and shiver,
I'd rather go where waters flow, no well beside the river.


Lyrics submitted by Seven

A Well Beside the River Lyrics as written by Martin Walkyier Graeme English

Lyrics © CONEXION MEDIA GROUP, INC., Royalty Network

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

A Well Beside The River song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

4 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +1
    General Comment

    Seven (and a half) years later, thanks to valkyriemp for the tips on the meaning of "the tupping fool"... Still, the whole meaning eludes me (maybe I'm getting too old) and I can only relate it to sexual behaviour (please, pardon me). But I, honestly, think this is a very great song, and sincerely miss that times when songs were just a merely way to say something that the performer wants to make public in a poetrical manner, not just a way to make money.

    Abikuon January 14, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    "A well besides the river" contains one of the best lyrics for a song I had read in my life (I have 40 years). I don't know what means "the tupping fool" because english is not my natural language. I think this song is giving us advices of what to do with ourselves as human beings.

    Abikuon August 25, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I've been listening to skyclad for years, but had to look this one up. Thanks wilkipedia

    Definitions of tupping on the Web:

    As a noun, a tup is a ram (male sheep). As a verb it describes copulation by a ram with a ewe (female sheep). en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupping

    valkyriempon June 24, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I don't think you're wrong to interpret the word "tupping" as sexual. The whole Vintage Whine album seems to focus on a woman with whom Martin is... not particularly happy. A couple of the other songs (Bury Me, Little Miss Take) suggest that Martin loved this woman very much, but she didn't take the relationship seriously and left him abruptly. So I think that in this song, he refers to himself as her "tupping fool" because she only used him for sex.

    I feel like every time I read Skyclad lyrics, I have to look up some of the words or phrases used, either because I'm not familiar with chiefly British terms, or because the references are just so obscure. It's part of why I love this band so much -- I always end up learning something new from their lyrics.

    sewnomercyon July 07, 2016   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Holiday
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday". I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Album art
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988. "'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." "There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Album art
When We Were Young
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Album art
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
Album art
Midnight
Ed Sheeran
“Midnight” is a song about finding a love that is so true that it provides a calming feeling through every storm. Ed Sheeran reflects on his good fortunes in landing someone with such peace and support and speaks of not fearing the dark days because he knows they’ll all end in the safety nets of her arms. “Well, good morning there / What a way to start the day / With everything laid bare,” Ed Sheeran sings in the first verse, enthusiastic to be waking up beside his woman. He apologizes for missing her calls in the second verse and promises to return them because for him, speaking to her is the most important thing. “Well, I get lost inside my head / In this chaos, you’re my calm / And I will find my feet again / ‘Cause еven the worst days of my life will always еnd / At midnight in your arms,” sings Ed Sheeran in the chorus, revelling in his good luck.