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.
Great peril awaits us beyond the Black River
Summoned by the beating of drums
Our number is few and our errand is dire
We do what must be done
At the bidding of the high priest
The tribes gather for war
Evil sorcery is unleashed
Upon the opposite shore
Make your stand with great hound
The frontier is lost
Black waters lie before you
Together you cross
Take heart!
Do not fear
Though you know
Your death nears
We shall build you a cairn beyond the Black River
Where no one will disturb you rest
There you shall lay in your helm and your harness
With your sword across your breast
Now take a quick moment to answer this question
As the ferry approaches the shore
Will you have the coin to pay for your passage
And the courage to take up the oar?
Summoned by the beating of drums
Our number is few and our errand is dire
We do what must be done
At the bidding of the high priest
The tribes gather for war
Evil sorcery is unleashed
Upon the opposite shore
Make your stand with great hound
The frontier is lost
Black waters lie before you
Together you cross
Take heart!
Do not fear
Though you know
Your death nears
We shall build you a cairn beyond the Black River
Where no one will disturb you rest
There you shall lay in your helm and your harness
With your sword across your breast
Now take a quick moment to answer this question
As the ferry approaches the shore
Will you have the coin to pay for your passage
And the courage to take up the oar?
Lyrics submitted by stevewizzle
The Black River Lyrics as written by John D Cronise
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
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."
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
Sick galloping riffage! Prolly my favorite song on the new album. Simply a song about the courage a warrior would need to stare death in the face. Amazing lyrics, the last verse is just awesome. imho just asking… will you be ready when your time comes?
This is based on one of Robert E. Howard's Conan The Barbarian stories, "Beyond The Black River," covering the fall of the westernmost outpost of the Aquilonian empire, on the edges of the Black River to the Picts.
Badass story, pretty much as metal as The Sword.
This is based on one of Robert E. Howard's Conan The Barbarian stories, "Beyond The Black River," covering the fall of the westernmost outpost of the Aquilonian empire, on the edges of the Black River to the Picts.
Badass story, pretty much as metal as The Sword.
I havent read the Conan the Barbarian story cbux refers to so I cant dispute what he says - if the names the same hes probably right. However when I first heard this, it reminded me of the Battle of Blackwater Bay in Game of Thrones. Seems to match up pretty well. And since To Take the Black is about Game of Thrones, why not this one? Here is the parts that stick out to me: By the Beating of Drums - Stannis' army beat drums as they approached on ship at the bidding of the high priest - the fire priest Stannis obeys (worships lord of light) Evil sorcery is unleashed Upon the opposite shore - The wildfire that destroys the ships Make your stand with great hound - The Hound (Clegane) led the charge for the city (before deserting)
I havent read the Conan the Barbarian story cbux refers to so I cant dispute what he says - if the names the same hes probably right. However when I first heard this, it reminded me of the Battle of Blackwater Bay in Game of Thrones. Seems to match up pretty well. And since To Take the Black is about Game of Thrones, why not this one? Here is the parts that stick out to me: By the Beating of Drums - Stannis' army beat drums as they approached on ship at the bidding of the high priest - the fire priest Stannis obeys (worships lord of light) Evil sorcery is unleashed Upon the opposite shore - The wildfire that destroys the ships Make your stand with great hound - The Hound (Clegane) led the charge for the city (before deserting)