About the song
Background on Garth Brooks – “The River”
- Released in April 1992 as the fifth and final single from his album Ropin’ the Wind (released September 1991).
- Co-written by Garth Brooks and Victoria Shaw.
- Became Garth Brooks’ ninth Number One hit on the Billboard country charts.
- Appeared on three of his albums that sold over 10 million copies each in the US: Ropin’ the Wind, The Hits, and Double Live.
Themes in “The River”
The song uses the metaphor of a river to explore themes of:
- Persistence: The river keeps flowing despite obstacles, symbolizing the importance of never giving up on your dreams.
- Change: Rivers constantly change course, reflecting the ever-changing nature of life.
- Following your dreams: The lyrics encourage listeners to chase their goals with determination, just like a river flowing towards the sea.
- Overcoming challenges: The rapids and currents represent the difficulties we face in life, but the river keeps moving forward, demonstrating resilience.
Overall, “The River” is an inspirational song about perseverance, following your dreams, and navigating the ever-changing currents of life.
Video
Lyrics
You know a dream is like a river
Ever changin’ as it flows And the dreamer’s just a vessel That must follow where it goes Trying to learn from what’s behind you And never knowing what’s in store Makes each day a constant battle Just to stay between the shoresAnd I will sail my vessel
‘Til the river runs dry Like a bird upon the wind These waters are my sky I’ll never reach my destination If I never try So I will sail my vessel ‘Til the river runs dryToo many times we stand aside
And let the waters slip away ‘Til what we put off ’til tomorrow Has now become today So don’t you sit upon the shoreline And say you’re satisfied Choose to chance the rapids And dare to dance the tideYes, I will sail my vessel
‘Til the river runs dry Like a bird upon the wind These waters are my sky I’ll never reach my destination If I never try So I will sail my vessel ‘Til the river runs dryThere’s bound to be rough waters
And I know I’ll take some falls But with the good Lord as my captain I can make it through them allYes, I will sail my vessel
‘Til the river runs dry Like a bird upon the wind These waters are my sky I’ll never reach my destination If I never try So I will sail my vessel ‘Til the river runs dryYes, I will sail my vessel
‘Til the river runs dry ‘Til the river runs dry