This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
There is a black river
It passes by my window
And late at night
All dolled up like Christ
I walk the water
Between the piers
Singing
Oh
River of sorrow
River of time, river
River of sorrow
Don't swallow this time
For we all know the baby has expired
Long ago she was pulled from the mire
And no precious liar or well-wisher
Can return the love that was stolen
Oh
River of sorrow
River of time, river
River of sorrow
Don't swallow this time
Can you see the light
At the end of the dark passageway
Take me wit you towads this light
Into the darkness passing over the faces in the river
Hear me!
I'm whispering in your ear!
Oh
River of sorrow
Oh, river of time
River of sorrow
Don't swallow this time
Oh
River of sorrow
Oh, river of time
River of sorrow
Don't swallow this time
It passes by my window
And late at night
All dolled up like Christ
I walk the water
Between the piers
Singing
Oh
River of sorrow
River of time, river
River of sorrow
Don't swallow this time
For we all know the baby has expired
Long ago she was pulled from the mire
And no precious liar or well-wisher
Can return the love that was stolen
Oh
River of sorrow
River of time, river
River of sorrow
Don't swallow this time
Can you see the light
At the end of the dark passageway
Take me wit you towads this light
Into the darkness passing over the faces in the river
Hear me!
I'm whispering in your ear!
Oh
River of sorrow
Oh, river of time
River of sorrow
Don't swallow this time
Oh
River of sorrow
Oh, river of time
River of sorrow
Don't swallow this time
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
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Holiday
Bee Gees
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.
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
I wonder if it should be "precious lyre" and not "precious liar". If the song is referencing Greek mythology (personally, I thought of the river styx), then lyre makes sense, especially considering Orpheus.
I also have to add that this song is gorgeous. After the first time I heard it, I couldn't stop listening to it.
The river Acheron was, in ancient Greece, the River of Sorrows, one of the five rivers connected to the realm of the dead. I love this song.
The song is written for Marsha P Johnson who was an African American transgender activist and who died in 1992. The name Antony & the Johnsons is also an homage to her.
I actually thought of the book "Heart of Darkness", when I heard this song.
In 1992, the body of Marsha P. Johnson, a famous drag queen and gay rights activist, was found in the Hudson River in New York, off the West Village Piers. Police ruled it as a suicide, though friends and relatives insisted Marsha had not been suicidal, and several witnesses claimed that she had been earlier harassed near the sight of her death. Any attempts to persuade police to further investigate her death were unsuccessful.
vimeo.com/41327842