This song is about sin (in comparison to a river,) at least to me.
The singer is listening to this authority figure, who's telling him he needs to turn his life around, because it's going all wrong. ("I heard a story from a man in red... son I think you’d better go ahead.") Also, about the "man in red" part... it sounds like the advise offerer is being compared to a fireman. ("You better run for the hills before they burn.")
But, the singer also wants to help his friend, too, as they're going on the same path he is. ("I just want to show you what I know and catch you when the current lets you go. ")
So the singer is trying to decide if he should help himself at all. ("Or should I just get along with myself? I never did get along with everybody else. ") He's also saying that, even though he's trying hard, it's difficult for him to give up his habit of sin, and destruction, as it's so easy to destroy (watch the clouds fall) than not. ("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. Well this river is wild..")
He's ashamed of getting help, but he knows he needs to stop his way of life. ("Sometimes I’m nervous when I talk, shake a little. Sometimes I hate the line I walk.")
So, he starts talking about another person who has problems, too. Or, maybe he's just talking about himself... ("Now Adam’s taking bombs and he’s stuck on his mom because that bitch keeps trying to make him pray. He’s with the hippy in the park combing over the dark just trying to get some of the little girl play.")
Suddenly, the singer realizes that he's not so alone on how he lives his life, and he can see that many people are in the same predictament he is. ("Now the cars are everywhere, lacing dust at the fairgrounds. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many headlights.") And now, he wants to back to his old life. ("But there’s something pulling me.") He pays tribute to the people who make life a little more bearable to people like him, even if they're only in your life for a small amount of time. ("The circus and their crew, well they’re just passing through, just making sure that merry still goes ‘round.") He remarks that from how much he's improved, going back to his sinful habits would really be a hard fall. ("But it’s a long, long, long way down.")
Sorry, that's my first time ever really analyzing lyrics, so it's probably not very good... n_n;.
This song is about sin (in comparison to a river,) at least to me.
The singer is listening to this authority figure, who's telling him he needs to turn his life around, because it's going all wrong. ("I heard a story from a man in red... son I think you’d better go ahead.") Also, about the "man in red" part... it sounds like the advise offerer is being compared to a fireman. ("You better run for the hills before they burn.")
But, the singer also wants to help his friend, too, as they're going on the same path he is. ("I just want to show you what I know and catch you when the current lets you go. ")
So the singer is trying to decide if he should help himself at all. ("Or should I just get along with myself? I never did get along with everybody else. ") He's also saying that, even though he's trying hard, it's difficult for him to give up his habit of sin, and destruction, as it's so easy to destroy (watch the clouds fall) than not. ("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. Well this river is wild..")
He's ashamed of getting help, but he knows he needs to stop his way of life. ("Sometimes I’m nervous when I talk, shake a little. Sometimes I hate the line I walk.")
So, he starts talking about another person who has problems, too. Or, maybe he's just talking about himself... ("Now Adam’s taking bombs and he’s stuck on his mom because that bitch keeps trying to make him pray. He’s with the hippy in the park combing over the dark just trying to get some of the little girl play.")
Suddenly, the singer realizes that he's not so alone on how he lives his life, and he can see that many people are in the same predictament he is. ("Now the cars are everywhere, lacing dust at the fairgrounds. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many headlights.") And now, he wants to back to his old life. ("But there’s something pulling me.") He pays tribute to the people who make life a little more bearable to people like him, even if they're only in your life for a small amount of time. ("The circus and their crew, well they’re just passing through, just making sure that merry still goes ‘round.") He remarks that from how much he's improved, going back to his sinful habits would really be a hard fall. ("But it’s a long, long, long way down.")
Sorry, that's my first time ever really analyzing lyrics, so it's probably not very good... n_n;.