I think this is a song about a man who has separated from his wife. He hears she is around or back in town. He apologises for the things he could not give her and the sadness he did give her (the tears I never dried). He wishes it were different but he can't change. He's been a long time on the skids. He starts off by complementing her on her garden and kids. They seem to be interlocked in like (I'm running here beside you). The river that has run over her is possibly his destruction of her life through his drugs, drinking, who knows what. It is a beautiful song because she still loves him and he still admires her. This is mature song writing and Dave Dobbyn is amazing at it.
I think this is a song about a man who has separated from his wife. He hears she is around or back in town. He apologises for the things he could not give her and the sadness he did give her (the tears I never dried). He wishes it were different but he can't change. He's been a long time on the skids. He starts off by complementing her on her garden and kids. They seem to be interlocked in like (I'm running here beside you). The river that has run over her is possibly his destruction of her life through his drugs, drinking, who knows what. It is a beautiful song because she still loves him and he still admires her. This is mature song writing and Dave Dobbyn is amazing at it.