The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
As I walk through the valley
Of the shadow of L.A.
The footsteps that were next to me
Have gone their separate ways
I've seen enough now to know that beautiful things
Don't always stay that way
I've done enough now to know this beautiful place
Isn't everything they say
I heard that evil comes disguised
Like the city of angels
I'm walking towards the light
Baptized in the river
I've seen a vision of my life and I wanna be delivered
In the city was a sinner
I've done a lot of things wrong but I swear I'm a believer
Like the prodigal son, I was out on my own
Now I'm trying to find my way back home
Baptized in the river
I'm delivered, I'm delivered
You're from a small town
You're gonna grow up fast underneath these lights
Down in Hollywood on the boulevard
The dead come back to life
To the praying Mother and the worried Father
Let your children go
If they come back they'll come home stronger
And if they don't you'll know
They say evil that comes disguised
Like the city of angels
I'm walking towards the light
Baptized in the river
I've seen a vision of my life and I wanna be delivered
In the city was a sinner
I've done a lot of things wrong but I swear I'm a believer
Like the prodigal son, I was out on my own
Now I'm trying to find my way back home
Baptized in the river
I'm delivered, I'm delivered
Baptized in the river
(On my own!)
Baptized in the river
(On my own!)
I wanna be delivered
(On my own!)
(On my own!)
Baptized in the river
(On my own!)
I wanna be delivered
Baptized in the river
(On my own!)
I wanna be delivered
Baptized in the river
(On my own!)
I wanna be delivered
I confess I'm a sinner
I've seen a vision of my life
And I wanna be delivered!
Of the shadow of L.A.
The footsteps that were next to me
Have gone their separate ways
I've seen enough now to know that beautiful things
Don't always stay that way
I've done enough now to know this beautiful place
Isn't everything they say
I heard that evil comes disguised
Like the city of angels
I'm walking towards the light
Baptized in the river
I've seen a vision of my life and I wanna be delivered
In the city was a sinner
I've done a lot of things wrong but I swear I'm a believer
Like the prodigal son, I was out on my own
Now I'm trying to find my way back home
Baptized in the river
I'm delivered, I'm delivered
You're from a small town
You're gonna grow up fast underneath these lights
Down in Hollywood on the boulevard
The dead come back to life
To the praying Mother and the worried Father
Let your children go
If they come back they'll come home stronger
And if they don't you'll know
They say evil that comes disguised
Like the city of angels
I'm walking towards the light
Baptized in the river
I've seen a vision of my life and I wanna be delivered
In the city was a sinner
I've done a lot of things wrong but I swear I'm a believer
Like the prodigal son, I was out on my own
Now I'm trying to find my way back home
Baptized in the river
I'm delivered, I'm delivered
Baptized in the river
(On my own!)
Baptized in the river
(On my own!)
I wanna be delivered
(On my own!)
(On my own!)
Baptized in the river
(On my own!)
I wanna be delivered
Baptized in the river
(On my own!)
I wanna be delivered
Baptized in the river
(On my own!)
I wanna be delivered
I confess I'm a sinner
I've seen a vision of my life
And I wanna be delivered!
Lyrics submitted by poisoned_wound
The River Lyrics as written by Benji Madden Don Gilmore
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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.
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I think prodical is actually 'prodigal' since prodical isn't a word. Also, in the second verse with the A7X guy, 'mother' and 'father' should be switched around. And I think it may be 405 instead of 45 because I know 405 is a big highway in LA; I'm not sure about that one though.
But I really like this song; it's quite catchy. The only part I don't really like is that it focuses so much on their faith. This is somewhat new since most of their previous songs, excluding It Wasn't Enough, don't focus this much on their religion.
personally im not the biggest GC fan. And i dont just love the river because im a huge A7X fan ^_^ This song is great, and Shadows and Gates do wonders for this song!! but claps for GC. Good song (y)
i love this song its so different but good at the same time i think joels screams abit pathetic though =/
oh wait. i think it's "dead come back to life" not "dead come back tonight". okay. i'll shut up now; i promise. i'm probably not right anyway ^_^
In GCTV number 2, they said this song was about redemption and how they found themselves again while making this album. But i think this song is too religious to be about redemption.
But i get how it does relate to redemption
i think the song means about someone who has done bad things but that they really are a good person.and all they could really want is to be forgiven.i think its a song of forgiveness.=]
a lot of people i know, when i played it for them, gave gc a lot of crap about this song, saying they were going all "religious on them". okay, America is a free country and you should be able to write about what's close to your heart, whatever that may be. and this song can help a lot of people, whether they're religious or not, because it's not just about faith, it's about realizing when you're in a dark place and having the courage and humility to take yourself out of it, which is a message that can help anyone. the song is really well written and emotional, and i think gc's really brave for releasing it, seeing as religion is such a controversial topic. but seriously, if we can't talk about controversial topics in a rational, respectful manner, what will this world come to?
I think the meaning of this song is of course being baptized in a river.I think they were tlkin bout how god was mad at him 4 doing a sin but hes tryin 2 tell god 2 give him another chance and forgive him.bcuz in the song he said ″in the city theres a sinner ive done alot of things rong but i swear im a believer″.
First of all, I thought this song is about The Baptism of Jesus Christ but due to the verse "The shadow of L.A. Then, I think it something else.
Cool song. Interesting lyrics. Love it GeeCee boys from MD. Laterrr.=]