Lyrics
Make your bed the river, young girl
Advice to metaphorically "make your bed" in the river, possibly implying accepting a fate or a consequence.
Make your bed the river, young girl
Reiteration of the advice to accept a certain destiny symbolized by the river.
La-la-la-la la la la-la-la la
Non-lexical vocables, possibly emphasizing the significance of the river as a metaphor.
Make your bed the river, young girl
Repeat of the advice to accept the river as a resting place or fate.
Did you come here to meet him, my dear?
A question addressing someone's intention in coming, expressing surprise at finding the speaker.
You surprised to find only me?
Expresses surprise or confusion at the visitor's expectations.
Well, I put him to rest at the bend in the river
The speaker claims to have put someone to rest by the river, possibly suggesting a violent act or a burial.
And the same, I require of thee
The speaker demands a similar action from the visitor, linking it to a requirement or expectation.
I'm thick with disease in my madness
The speaker feels overwhelmed by an illness or madness.
Only one thought pacifies me
Only one thing brings comfort to the speaker amidst their mental turmoil.
That the murky black water grounds your bones into sand
Suggests a gruesome fate, envisioning the river as a place where the body disintegrates into the elements.
When the catfish have stripped off your hide
Implies a brutal end where nature, represented by catfish, consumes the remains.
Make your bed the river, young girl
Reiteration of the advice to accept the river as a resting place or fate.
Make your bed the river, young girl
Reiteration of advising acceptance of a certain destiny symbolized by the river.
Know you can't swim, but I'll tuck you in
Acknowledgment of the person's inability to deal with the situation but a promise to care for them.
Make your bed the river, young girl
Reiteration of the advice to accept the river as a resting place or fate.
So down as his trembling bride
Describing oneself as emotionally disturbed or agitated.
For to quail all this fury inside me
Expresses a desire for the other person to help quell the speaker's internal turmoil.
And if there's a chance that the Lord recognize you
Hope that a higher power may show more mercy than the speaker can muster.
Pray he has more mercy than I
Request for divine leniency toward the visitor.
Make your bed the river, young girl
Reiteration of the advice to accept the river as a resting place or fate.
Make your bed the river, young girl
Reiteration of advising acceptance of a certain destiny symbolized by the river.
Know you can't swim, but I'll tuck you in
Acknowledgment of the person's inability to deal with the situation but a promise to care for them.
Make your bed the river, young girl
Reiteration of the advice to accept the river as a resting place or fate.
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