I'm Going To The River And There I'm Going To Swim Until I Sink.
I've Been Drowning Here Forever.
So, It Won't Make A Difference To Me.

Don't You See What The Buzz Is?

Look At Me.
I Am Nothing But A Need To Reach You.

If I Don't Go To The River I'm Going To Crawl Into A Hole And Fill Me In.
This Thing Will Suffocate Me.
So, You See, The Only Difference Is When.

I Don't Know What The Trick Is.

Look At Me. I Am Nothing But A Need To Reach You.

I've Waited So Long That I Can Smell The Rotting Of My Brain And
I'm Shaking And I'm Stammering And Tasting The Sting Of My Failure.

Look At Me.
I Am Nothing But A Need To Reach You.
Look At Me I Am Nothing But A Need, This Need.

Everyday I See Rage In The Mirror.
It's Dripping From Me;
Throbbing Through Me.
I Can't Be Any Clearer
And I Can See It Right There.
It's On My Wall And It's Frightening Me.


Lyrics submitted by v@caman

The River Lyrics as written by

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC

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The River song meanings
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  • 0
    General Comment

    The chorus is something that anyone who's been in love yet been rejected can empathise with and the feeling of emptiness and lack of self worth that accompany this. Also anger that results from the previous and the latter, and the resignment that everything is seen with no meaning now, 'look at me, I am nothing, but a need to reach you'.

    trillson May 08, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Dont listen to Shock Resistor, he/she is such a fuckin wanker. This song is so amazing. It sounds like someone who was rejected from someone they like plotting their suicide, idk but i think the first one is the best....

    devoursoulson November 26, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Oh and when you are rejected by someone, big deal get over it. But if its someone you really like and know you cant live without that thats another story. And its not a great feeling ( Suicide even). Thats what TTV was trying to point out.

    devoursoulson November 26, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    While I see it can be about rejection in a relationship like others have stated, it can be interpreted in a spiritual, metaphorical sense.

    "[...] to reach you." may not be about a person but about an inner state of peace and equilibrium which is personified because it (she) is so different from what the narrator is at the present moment: "i can smell the rotting of my brain and i'm shaking and i'm stammering and tasting the stain of my fail...failure. ... everyday i see rage in the mirror, it's dripping from me, throbbing through me."

    The narrator is in such a state of turmoil that she no longer recognises herself. The past self, her identity from before the problems begun, and/or the potential future self (if this turmoil will be overcome) who is at peace with herself, is addressed as if another person, one who is desperately needed: "i am nothing but a need to reach you."

    This line (and thus the person she talks to throughout the whole song) can also be interpreted as addressing God, asking for help when in a state of extreme despair.

    In any case, it's an idea the narrator clings to while facing circumstances that are crushing her, filling her with anger and self disgust, to the point where she is contemplating suicide just to get away.("i'm gonna crawl into a hole and fill me in / cause this thing will suffocate me / so, you see, the only difference is when.)

    I think it happens to many people when they go through extreme things to keep reaching towards and obsessing desperately about something which becomes a lifeline that keeps them from sinking wholly so that they can keep focused on fighting through, whether it's a memory, the hope for a better future, the affection of a loved one or God. That's what I think this song is about.

    FacebookLoginIsBrokenon January 27, 2019   Link
  • -1
    General Comment

    The singers voice is wonderful..and these people have alot of potential were it not for the lyrics. This lady is such a f*cking winer. This song promotes coodependance and for those that are vulnerable it will give them a song to whine to..where the hell is the pride?!

    Shock_Resistoron September 29, 2002   Link

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