This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Take me back to my boat, on the river
I need to go down, I need to come down
Take me back to my boat, on the river
And I won't cry out anymore
Time stands still, as I gaze in her waters
She eases me down, touching me gently
With the waters that flow past my boat, on the river
So I don't cry out anymore
Oh, the river is wise
The river, it touches my life like the waves on the sand
And all roads lead to Tranquility Base
Where the frown on my face disappears
Take me down to my boat, on the river
And I won't cry out anymore
Oh, the river is deep
The river, it touches my life, like the waves on the sand
And all roads lead to Tranquility Base
Where the frown on my face disappears, oh
Take me down to my boat, on the river
I need to go down, would you let me go down
Take me back to my boat, on the river
And I won't cry out anymore
And I won't cry out anymore
And I won't cry out anymore
I need to go down, I need to come down
Take me back to my boat, on the river
And I won't cry out anymore
Time stands still, as I gaze in her waters
She eases me down, touching me gently
With the waters that flow past my boat, on the river
So I don't cry out anymore
Oh, the river is wise
The river, it touches my life like the waves on the sand
And all roads lead to Tranquility Base
Where the frown on my face disappears
Take me down to my boat, on the river
And I won't cry out anymore
Oh, the river is deep
The river, it touches my life, like the waves on the sand
And all roads lead to Tranquility Base
Where the frown on my face disappears, oh
Take me down to my boat, on the river
I need to go down, would you let me go down
Take me back to my boat, on the river
And I won't cry out anymore
And I won't cry out anymore
And I won't cry out anymore
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
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
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.
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."
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
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.
I think it talks about death "Take me down to my boat on the river" : it talks about river Styx (as the band name) which in ancient Greece was the river where dead passed it to go to underworld (Hades).
Also he is looking forward for that journey, because he is disappointed by his life, or he is in pain: "I need to go down, I need to come down", "And I won't cry out any more", "And all roads lead to Tranquillity Base Where the frown on my face disappears"
Ofcourse this is only what it means to me, because we're talking about art and everyone makes his own interpretations.
t totally agree with delxpez, the obsession with the river is obvious with 'touches my life like the waves on the sand" and represents his longing for death, or just a release in the fact taht its something thats constant. And also that the river is "long"and "deep" suggests to me that he sees death as being far away, showing a longing for it's release.<br /> Great song, one of my favorite by Styx!
There must be some reference to a book written by John Kendrick Bangs "A House-Boat on the Styx" (published in 1985). <br /> "The premise of the book is that everyone who has ever died (up to the time in which the book is set, which seems to be about the time of its publication) has gone to Styx, the river that circles the underworld" [wiki]
I have no clue what this song means but it sure is catchy. Love Styx, love all their songs.
This song is about none of the above. Tommy Shaw wrote this in 1979 and there are several influences behind it. The music is inspired by a trip to France; the lyrics refer to the need to get away from it all. Tranquility Base was the name of the 125 acre farm he lived on in Niles, Michigan. At that time, Styx was one of the top bands in the U.S. after a relatively quick rise to superstardom; "Boat on the River" was Tommy expressing his need to be able to get home and get away from all the pressures and craziness.
PS to the above comment: "Lights" is not a drug song, just the joys of being onstage in the glare of spotlights. "Snowblind" is an anti-drug song, written from the point of view of a user (which Tommy was at the time, pretty heavily).
I've heard someone argue that Tranquility Base is the one on the moon. This is one of the best love of water songs ever.
It's always surprised me how many people have not heard this track. It's such a simplistic, yet beautiful, song. It's peaceful and calming. Whenever I listen to it I 'feel' the slow rocking of my grandmother's wooden row boat when I was a young girl and I'd take it to the middle of the pond, lie down on the seat, and look up at the sky...allowing the current to bring the boat back closer to shore. It was so freeing. This song is very special to me.
"Oh the river is wide...The river it touches my life like the waves on the sand...And all roads lead to Tranquillity Base...Where the frown on my face disappears." Where do you all get the death angle? There's no mention of a leaking or sinking boat. Have you not ever gone to the water's edge or out on a boat alone just to think. What's wrong with you people! If you want to really really relax, go out on the water at dusk (alone) and look up at the horizon as you listen to the soft waves lap against the wooden hull. It's almost spiritual.
Hi,<br /> <br /> I made an account just because I wanted to answer you. Although I haven't read any of the other interpretations, I do think they are talking about the peace brought by death for a couple of main reasons. "She (time) eases me down, [...], " (there is no escaping death---eventually, the time will come for all of us to go), "And all roads lead to Tranquillity Base" (death is the only place to which all roads lead---and it is a peaceful place). Now, if you listen to the sound again, you will see that all words seem to fit this understanding. Good luck!
The boat wouldn't need leaking of sinking for it to still mean death. In Greek mythology, a boat carries you across the river Styx to the land of the dead (Hades), and that boat isn't leaking or sinking.
Is this part correct?
"I need to come down."
Or is it "I need to calm down." ??
Anyone knows for sure?
Sadly, I think this song is about getting stoned. I love Styx, I have since Paradise Theater came out in 1980. I think Tommy Shaw is using the "boat on the river" as metaphor for the feeling of serenity that he gets from being high. Generally, I don't like drug songs but we need to keep this song in the context of other Styx songs like "Lights" and "Snowblind".
No way, Jose. How did you get "stoned" from the lyrics? Ok, I read how you GOT it, but it makes no sense. I am seldom wrong on lyrical interpretation, but this time I am....there is NOTHING about being stoned in this song. It's about tranquility alone. Ever have a less than great day and go out alone on a row boat on in a cannoe and lie down in the middle of it while the sky darkened and the only other sounds were fish jumping and birds flying overhead. If you had, you'd understand this song...
Death and drugs??? He's simply searching for peace. It's a GREAT song. I played the Styx album to death (like the Boston one it lost some of its ridges:) and this has always been my favorite song by the band.
Man, still no additional comments? This is Styx's BEST. I could listen to this song daily regarless of my mood. Just heard it this morning and still love it.
Thank you for your thoughts about this actually marvelous song. You should als try the live version (Caught in the Act).
Personally, my initial understanding was also into lethal or even suicidal directions, but cassiemay10 sounds quite convincing.
Did you know by the way, that "Tranquility Base" is also the landing point of Apollo (N.Armstrong & Co.) on the moon?
Also note that there is a Wikipedia article on this song, it is missing any kinds of interpretation yet.
@cassiemay10: Do you have any sources / references for your information about Tommys farm?