| Talking Heads – Take Me To The River Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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First of all, these lyrics are a little off. "I don't know why I love you like I do . . . " "I want to know, can you tell me . . . " This song, at least the older soul version, is not sung to a human lover, but to god, who washes him down in baptism and takes his money and cigarettes in turning him from vice to virtue. The river refers to John's baptism of Jesus in the Jordan. The Al Green version has "won't you cleanse my soul" and "I haven't seen hide nor hair of you yet." If you find "hug me, squeeze me, love me, tease me" a little racy for god, think of the Song of Songs and the tradition of bridal mysticism, where the devout enter a romantic/erotic relationship with (a) god. Now, if you think the Talking Heads' version is a bit more ironic than Al Green's, that's another story. |
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