This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Leaves are fallin' down on the beautiful ground
I heard a story from the man in red
He said, the leaves are fallin' down
Such a beautiful sound
Son, I think you'd better go ahead
But you always hold your head up high
Cause it's a long, long, long way down
This town was meant for passing through
Boy, it ain't nothin' new
Now go and show 'em that the world stayed round
But it's a long, long, long way down
You better run for the hills
Before they burn
Listen to the sound of the world
Don't watch it turn
I just want to show you what I know
And catch you when the current
Lets you go
Or should I just get along with myself?
I never did get along with everybody else
I've been tryin' hard to do what's right
But you know I could stay here
All night
And watch the clouds fall from the sky
This river is wild
This river is wild
Run for the hills before they burn
Listen to the sound of the world
Don't watch it turn
I shake a little
Sometimes I'm nervous when I talk
I shake a little
Sometimes I hate the line I walk
I just wanna to show you what I know
Catch you when the current
Lets you go
Or should I just get along with myself?
I never did get along with everybody else
I've been trying hard to do what's right
But you know I could stay here
All night
And watch the clouds fall from the sky
Because this river is wild
Godspeed ya, boy
This river is wild
Now Adam's taking bombs, and he's stuck on his mom
Because that bitch keeps tryin' to make him pray
He's with the hippie in the park, combing over the dark
Just tryin' to get some of that little-girl play
You better run for the hills before they burn
Listen to the sound of the world
Don't watch it turn
I just want to show you what I know
And catch you when the current
Lets you go
Or should I get along with myself?
I never did get along with everybody else
I've been tryin' hard to do what's right
But you know I could stay here
All night
And watch the clouds fall from the sky
This pain is hell in me tonight
Because this river is wild
Godspeed ya, boy
This river is wild
This river is wild
Godspeed ya, boy
This river is wild
And cars are everywhere
Raisin' dust at the fairground
I don't think I ever seen so many headlights
But there's somethin' pullin' me
The circus and the crew
Well, they're just passin' through
Makin' sure the merry still goes 'round
But it's a long, long, long way down
I heard a story from the man in red
He said, the leaves are fallin' down
Such a beautiful sound
Son, I think you'd better go ahead
But you always hold your head up high
Cause it's a long, long, long way down
This town was meant for passing through
Boy, it ain't nothin' new
Now go and show 'em that the world stayed round
But it's a long, long, long way down
You better run for the hills
Before they burn
Listen to the sound of the world
Don't watch it turn
I just want to show you what I know
And catch you when the current
Lets you go
Or should I just get along with myself?
I never did get along with everybody else
I've been tryin' hard to do what's right
But you know I could stay here
All night
And watch the clouds fall from the sky
This river is wild
This river is wild
Run for the hills before they burn
Listen to the sound of the world
Don't watch it turn
I shake a little
Sometimes I'm nervous when I talk
I shake a little
Sometimes I hate the line I walk
I just wanna to show you what I know
Catch you when the current
Lets you go
Or should I just get along with myself?
I never did get along with everybody else
I've been trying hard to do what's right
But you know I could stay here
All night
And watch the clouds fall from the sky
Because this river is wild
Godspeed ya, boy
This river is wild
Now Adam's taking bombs, and he's stuck on his mom
Because that bitch keeps tryin' to make him pray
He's with the hippie in the park, combing over the dark
Just tryin' to get some of that little-girl play
You better run for the hills before they burn
Listen to the sound of the world
Don't watch it turn
I just want to show you what I know
And catch you when the current
Lets you go
Or should I get along with myself?
I never did get along with everybody else
I've been tryin' hard to do what's right
But you know I could stay here
All night
And watch the clouds fall from the sky
This pain is hell in me tonight
Because this river is wild
Godspeed ya, boy
This river is wild
This river is wild
Godspeed ya, boy
This river is wild
And cars are everywhere
Raisin' dust at the fairground
I don't think I ever seen so many headlights
But there's somethin' pullin' me
The circus and the crew
Well, they're just passin' through
Makin' sure the merry still goes 'round
But it's a long, long, long way down
Lyrics submitted by ultradirrty, edited by sectionk8
This River Is Wild Lyrics as written by Dave Brent Keuning Brandon Flowers
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I didn't actually read through all 90 something comments, so I apologize if my analysis is redundant (heh, but hey! if I'm number 91 no one will probably read mine either! :-P)
Anywho, I think this, like other Killers songs, could be about growing up in a small town (Sam's Town, even?)...
There is definitely the circu motif thrown in there, and I think that whoever said the man in red is the ringleader could be right. I think the circus might represent more worldly folk, entertainers...
I think this kid is struggling growing up in a small town when he has more potential. Having grown up in a small town myself, I know what it feels like to feel like you just don't fit in with anyone... like you wouldn't be satisfied staying in this small town like everyone else seems to be. I think the worldly man in red is telling the kid to hurry up and get out of this town and see the world/make something of himself, before he wrecks it with the destructive habits of bored suburban/rural kids (lots of drugs, drinking, stupid things...) But I think he's also saying, watch out because once you get into the big world it's not as sheltered ("It's a long way down"), and that he needs to be careful, hold his head up high to not be swallowed up by the big river (real world).
This kind of goes along with the chorus:
Run for the hills before they burn. Listen to the sound of the world, don't watch it turn. But shake a little... etc.
Also, "I could stay here all night and watch the clouds fall from the sky. Well this river is wild. This river is wild."
He could stay in the small town and watch life pass him by, or he could take the chance in the wild river... he's not sure.
The little segment about Adam? Well, it could be an example of someone who stuck around the small town. He's still living with his mom, doing drugs, and his mom is trying to reform him. He hangs out with another dead-end character - the hippie in the park - and tries to hit on the young girls "little girl play." You all know that creepy guy who's like in his late 20s but still hangs around his old high school hitting on the girls? Yeah....
Thank you so much. I always wanted to know what this song meant. Flowers is so talented and the band is one of my favorites. I was looking for a song about "falling leaves" because I have dozens of bags to fill with pine straw today; I stumbled upon this song. Fall always makes me think of the circus leaving town and how everything slows...people dress more plainly; they appear to move less quickly; the nights are longer; and it's hot chocolate rather than lemonade on ice that quenches our thirst. It's a quieter time of year, especially in small town America...perhaps giving one more time for reflection. This was the perfect song choice and your explanation of it helps a lot...so thanks again.