There's actually an acoustic version of this song which has different lyrics. It's mostly the same but the changes give a good indication of the meaning. The main difference is in the 3rd verse
These things you keep
You better throw them away
Turn your back
On all your old ways
Once you were tethered
Now you are free
Once you were tethered
Now you are free
That was the river
This is the sea
If you're feelin' weary
Maybe you been up too long
maybe you're sufferin' from
A few too many
Plans that have gone wrong
Don't try to remember
How good it all used to be
Don't try to remember
how good life used to be
Because that was the river
This is the sea
Now you say you got trouble
You say you got pain
You say you've been so confused
Seeing all your lies
Again and again and again
Say your lost lover
He was nothin like me
Say your old lost lover
He was nothing like me
Well he was the river
This is the sea
Now I can see you wavering
As you try to decide
There's a war in your head
And it's tearin' you up inside
Just forget all your schoolin'
It won't give you the key
Just forget all your schoolin'
It won't give you the key
But that was the river...
This is the sea
(last verse the same)
I think the lyrics of this song are so good because you can relate them to them with so many things, growing up/new relationships etc I don't agree with the spiritual interpretation but it just shows that the meaning can be interpreted in so many ways.
My personal thoughts are about the singer trying to appeal to a girl to forget her old troubles and lovers and be with him. pAll rivers lead to the ocean and (particularly in the acoustic version of the lyrics) he says that her old lover is the 'river' and that he is the 'sea'...ie he is her destination.
The line about the train says i'm yours if you want me no questions asked 'you don't ay no fee'
Finally i think just the driving inspirational melody of this tune is so uplifting but strong at the same time.
Awesome song..just great.
There's actually an acoustic version of this song which has different lyrics. It's mostly the same but the changes give a good indication of the meaning. The main difference is in the 3rd verse
These things you keep You better throw them away Turn your back On all your old ways Once you were tethered Now you are free Once you were tethered Now you are free That was the river This is the sea
If you're feelin' weary Maybe you been up too long maybe you're sufferin' from A few too many Plans that have gone wrong Don't try to remember How good it all used to be Don't try to remember how good life used to be Because that was the river This is the sea
Now you say you got trouble You say you got pain You say you've been so confused Seeing all your lies Again and again and again Say your lost lover He was nothin like me Say your old lost lover He was nothing like me Well he was the river This is the sea
Now I can see you wavering As you try to decide There's a war in your head And it's tearin' you up inside Just forget all your schoolin' It won't give you the key Just forget all your schoolin' It won't give you the key But that was the river... This is the sea
(last verse the same)
I think the lyrics of this song are so good because you can relate them to them with so many things, growing up/new relationships etc I don't agree with the spiritual interpretation but it just shows that the meaning can be interpreted in so many ways.
My personal thoughts are about the singer trying to appeal to a girl to forget her old troubles and lovers and be with him. pAll rivers lead to the ocean and (particularly in the acoustic version of the lyrics) he says that her old lover is the 'river' and that he is the 'sea'...ie he is her destination. The line about the train says i'm yours if you want me no questions asked 'you don't ay no fee'
Finally i think just the driving inspirational melody of this tune is so uplifting but strong at the same time.