Going Down to the River
Journey to Love's Embrace: River's Right Hand Road
Lyrics
I'm goin' down that river
I am embarking on a journey down the river.
I'm goin'-a take that right hand road
I will take the right-hand road on my journey.
I'm goin' down the river
Reiteration of the intention to go down the river.
I'm goin-a take that right hand road
Reaffirmation of choosing the right-hand road.
Lord, I ain't gon' stop walkin'
Expressing determination to keep walking until reaching a loved one.
'Till I get in sweet mama's arms
The goal is to be in the arms of a sweet mama.
Lord, the girl I'm lovin'
Description of the physical features of the beloved girl.
She got that great long curly hair
Reiteration of the girl's distinctive long, curly hair.
Lord, the girl I'm lovin'
Emphasis on the girl's long, curly hair.
Got the great long curly hair
Repetition of the girl's physical attributes.
Lord, her mama an her papa, Lord
Recognition of obstacles presented by the girl's parents.
Sure don't allow me there
Confirmation of being disallowed by the girl's parents.
Lord, allow me, sure, don't allow me
Repeated expression of not being allowed.
Sure, don't allow me, sure, don't allow me
Continued emphasis on the prohibition.
Sure, don't allow, allow me there
Reiteration of the disallowance.
Lord, Lord, sho' don't allow, 'llow me there
Strong affirmation of the restrictions imposed.
Sun rose this mornin', baby
Reference to the sunrise with a personal context of lying down.
Lord, I was layin' down on my flo'
The singer's position during the sunrise.
Lord, the sun rose this mornin'
Repetition of the morning sunrise with personal context.
I was layin' down on my flo'
Reiteration of the singer's position during the sunrise.
Lord, no woman to love me
Lamentation about lacking a woman's love and having nowhere to go.
Baby, even no place to go
Highlighting the absence of love and a place to go.
Lord, nobody, love me, baby
Expressing loneliness and the absence of love or a destination.
Lord, no place, place to go
Reiteration of the lack of a place to go.
Lord, even no, place to go
Emphasis on having no destination.
Lordy, Lordy, Lord, Lord
Exclamation of the challenging situation.
Lord, I'm goin' away, baby
Declaration of the intention to leave, inviting someone to join.
Don't you wanna go?
Asking if someone wants to accompany on the journey.
I'm goin' away, baby
Reiteration of the intention to leave, urging Mama to join.
Mama, don't you wanna go?
Encouraging Mama to join the departure.
Lord, I'm goin' somewhere
Stating the destination as somewhere unfamiliar.
I ain't never been before
Expressing the anticipation of a new experience.
Oh, Lord, I
Expressing the singer's current state or feelings.
Lord, I'm goin', goin' somewhere
Reiteration of the intention to go somewhere new.
I ain't never, been befor, Lord, Lord
Acknowledging the unprecedented nature of the journey.
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