First off, "Silent Waters" is about a part of the Kalevala, and Wikipedia has a quick summary of what happens here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalevala#The_first_Lemmink.C3.A4inen_cycle
In this song, Lemminkainen, the main character, looks back at what he's done, and how he's changed. He's gone from a wild, cocky kid to a humbled man after trying and failing to kill the white swan. He won't be able to live with himself after failing at something for the first time in his life, but he knows his limits now, and he's a better man for it.
First off, "Silent Waters" is about a part of the Kalevala, and Wikipedia has a quick summary of what happens here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalevala#The_first_Lemmink.C3.A4inen_cycle In this song, Lemminkainen, the main character, looks back at what he's done, and how he's changed. He's gone from a wild, cocky kid to a humbled man after trying and failing to kill the white swan. He won't be able to live with himself after failing at something for the first time in his life, but he knows his limits now, and he's a better man for it.