River
Wistful Winter Reflections: Joni Mitchell's 'River' Meaning Unveiled
Lyrics
It's coming on Christmas
Anticipation of Christmas approaching
They're cutting down trees
Observation of trees being cut down
They're putting up reindeer
Noticing the installation of reindeer decorations
And singing songs of joy and peace
People singing songs of joy and peace
Oh, I wish I had a river
Expressing a desire for a river
I could skate away on
Imagining skating away on a river
But it don't snow here
Pointing out the absence of snow in the current location
It stays pretty green
Describing the persistent greenery
I'm going to make a lot of money
Expressing a plan to make a significant amount of money
Then I'm going to quit this crazy scene
Intention to leave the current challenging situation
I wish I had a river
Reiterating the desire for a river
I could skate away on
Reimagining the escape through skating on a river
I wish I had a river so long
Expressing a wish for a long river
I would teach my feet to fly
Desire to learn how to transcend difficulties
Oh, I wish I had a river
Reiteration of the longing for a river as an escape
I could skate away on
Imagining the possibility of skating away
I made my baby cry
Acknowledging causing emotional pain to a loved one
He tried hard to help me
Recognition of the efforts made by someone to help
You know, he put me at ease
Feeling at ease due to someone's support
And he loved me so naughty
Reflecting on love and its impact
Made me weak in the knees
Describing the emotional effect of love
Oh, I wish I had a river
Reiteration of the desire for a river as an escape
I could skate away on
Reimagining the escape through skating on a river
I'm so hard to handle
Admitting to being challenging to deal with
I'm selfish and I'm sad
Acknowledging selfishness and sadness
Now I've gone and lost the best baby
Expressing the realization of losing a significant relationship
That I ever had
Regret for losing the best relationship
Oh, I wish I had a river
Reiteration of the desire for a river as an escape
I could skate away on
Reimagining the escape through skating on a river
I wish I had a river so long
Expressing a wish for a long river to facilitate transcendence
I would teach my feet to fly
Desire to learn how to fly metaphorically
Oh, I wish I had a river
Reiteration of the longing for a river as an escape
I could skate away on
Imagining the possibility of skating away
I made my baby say goodbye
Acknowledging causing the departure of a loved one
It's coming on Christmas
Anticipation of Christmas approaching (repeated)
They're cutting down trees
Observation of trees being cut down (repeated)
They're putting up reindeer
Noticing the installation of reindeer decorations (repeated)
Singing songs of joy and peace
People singing songs of joy and peace (repeated)
I wish I had a river
Reiteration of the desire for a river as Christmas approaches
I could skate away on
Reimagining the escape through skating on a river (concluding line)
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