I think the river is supposed to represent life, while the end of the river is death. The song seems to be about how you never know when your time will be up, so you should enjoy your ride down the river while you can, leaving a mark on every island along the way. This ties in nicely with 'Turn loose the mermaids'.
I agree that the river represents life. I think I read somewhere that Tuomas said that Marco's voice represents Satan and Anette's represents Gaia. If that's true, then Satan tries to persuade the wayfarer that the river will inevitably lead to a horrible end; he tries to bring the wayfarer to despair, to not even try because the river holds only doom. Gaia denies this and encourages the traveller to hope: in spite of the dangers, plunge into the river; there is wonder and joy to be found as well as darkness.
I agree that the river represents life. I think I read somewhere that Tuomas said that Marco's voice represents Satan and Anette's represents Gaia. If that's true, then Satan tries to persuade the wayfarer that the river will inevitably lead to a horrible end; he tries to bring the wayfarer to despair, to not even try because the river holds only doom. Gaia denies this and encourages the traveller to hope: in spite of the dangers, plunge into the river; there is wonder and joy to be found as well as darkness.
I think the river is supposed to represent life, while the end of the river is death. The song seems to be about how you never know when your time will be up, so you should enjoy your ride down the river while you can, leaving a mark on every island along the way. This ties in nicely with 'Turn loose the mermaids'.
I agree that the river represents life. I think I read somewhere that Tuomas said that Marco's voice represents Satan and Anette's represents Gaia. If that's true, then Satan tries to persuade the wayfarer that the river will inevitably lead to a horrible end; he tries to bring the wayfarer to despair, to not even try because the river holds only doom. Gaia denies this and encourages the traveller to hope: in spite of the dangers, plunge into the river; there is wonder and joy to be found as well as darkness.
I agree that the river represents life. I think I read somewhere that Tuomas said that Marco's voice represents Satan and Anette's represents Gaia. If that's true, then Satan tries to persuade the wayfarer that the river will inevitably lead to a horrible end; he tries to bring the wayfarer to despair, to not even try because the river holds only doom. Gaia denies this and encourages the traveller to hope: in spite of the dangers, plunge into the river; there is wonder and joy to be found as well as darkness.