Boat On The River Lyrics

Lyric discussion by ComeOnEileen 

Cover art for Boat On The River lyrics by Styx

"Oh the river is wide...The river it touches my life like the waves on the sand...And all roads lead to Tranquillity Base...Where the frown on my face disappears." Where do you all get the death angle? There's no mention of a leaking or sinking boat. Have you not ever gone to the water's edge or out on a boat alone just to think. What's wrong with you people! If you want to really really relax, go out on the water at dusk (alone) and look up at the horizon as you listen to the soft waves lap against the wooden hull. It's almost spiritual.

Hi,

I made an account just because I wanted to answer you. Although I haven't read any of the other interpretations, I do think they are talking about the peace brought by death for a couple of main reasons. "She (time) eases me down, [...], " (there is no escaping death---eventually, the time will come for all of us to go), "And all roads lead to Tranquillity Base" (death is the only place to which all roads lead---and it is a peaceful place). Now, if you listen to the sound again, you will see that all words seem to fit...

The boat wouldn't need leaking of sinking for it to still mean death. In Greek mythology, a boat carries you across the river Styx to the land of the dead (Hades), and that boat isn't leaking or sinking.