I never understood the meaning until I ran across this linkhttp://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=7839
Here is what's listed there...
The lyrics are Peek's advice to a lost and lonely girl who loves life in the fast lane but feels emptiness within. He tells her, "Don't cross the river if you can't swim the tide," meaning that if she is going to live life for her own fleshly reasons, she will likely be unhappy and do not expect otherwise. He invites her to accept Jesus by reminding her that "If you want, you can ride my train and soon forget the reason that you're leaving" - leaving the old life behind, and that "You'll lose yourself but then some time, maybe even save yourself some grievin'" - you'll leave certain pleasures behind but soon forget about them and save yourself many heartaches and hours of loneliness.
Great song!!
I never understood the meaning until I ran across this linkhttp://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=7839 Here is what's listed there... The lyrics are Peek's advice to a lost and lonely girl who loves life in the fast lane but feels emptiness within. He tells her, "Don't cross the river if you can't swim the tide," meaning that if she is going to live life for her own fleshly reasons, she will likely be unhappy and do not expect otherwise. He invites her to accept Jesus by reminding her that "If you want, you can ride my train and soon forget the reason that you're leaving" - leaving the old life behind, and that "You'll lose yourself but then some time, maybe even save yourself some grievin'" - you'll leave certain pleasures behind but soon forget about them and save yourself many heartaches and hours of loneliness.
Great song!!