Watching the River Flow Lyrics
I don't have much to say
Daylight sneakin' throgh the window
And I'm stillin this all-night cafe
Walkin' to and fro beneath the moon
Out to where the trucks are rollin' slow
To sit down on this bank of sand
And watch the river flow
Instead of this old bank of sand
With the sun beathing down over the chimney tops
And the one I love so close at hand
If I had wings and I could fly
I know where I would go
But right now I'll just sit here so contentedly
And watch the river flow
Makes you stop and all wonder why
Why only yesterday I saw somebody on the street
Who just couldn't help but cry
Oh, this ol' river keeps on rollin' though
No matter what gets in the way or which way the wind does blow
And as long as it does I'll just sit here
And watch the river flow
Makes you wanna stop and read a book
Why only yesterday I saw somebody on the street
That was really shook
But this ol' river keeps on rollin' though
No matter what gets in the way and which way the wind does blow
And as long as it does I'll just sit here
And watch the river flow
Watchin' the river flow
Watchin' the river flow
But I'll just sit down on this bank of sand
And watch the river flow
Great song.
It's the good, rational message of how you have to accept how unfortunate or troubling things in life can be.
About escaping from the rigours of everyday life.
A good bluesy song well sung by Dylan (when he could still sing properly) with the accompaniment of quality musicians. Covered successfully by Aussie band Stars in the early '80's.
@chrisb1 Here's the scoop on that accompaniment! This tune (along with "When I Paint My Masterpiece") was produced by Leon Russell, with Leon playing the piano.
@chrisb1 Here's the scoop on that accompaniment! This tune (along with "When I Paint My Masterpiece") was produced by Leon Russell, with Leon playing the piano.
I had a work buddy in my old corporate job who went to high school with Leon, in Tulsa OK. Amazingly, he wasn't aware of the fact that Leon has quite infiltrated the "beautiful people" coterie in the '60s. So we had a sort of running joke going: Whenever I'd encounter him in the hallways, I'd buttonhole him and say, "Ron: Leon Russell?... was HOT." Then we'd both have a laugh. But......
I had a work buddy in my old corporate job who went to high school with Leon, in Tulsa OK. Amazingly, he wasn't aware of the fact that Leon has quite infiltrated the "beautiful people" coterie in the '60s. So we had a sort of running joke going: Whenever I'd encounter him in the hallways, I'd buttonhole him and say, "Ron: Leon Russell?... was HOT." Then we'd both have a laugh. But... it was true. He's a true artist, who made a good name for himself at a rollicking time in American pop history. If you don't know about him, check him out. He probably made half his bundle selling his fine tunes to others to cover.
I think I'm going to do that. THANK YOU BOB DYLAN
lathe biosas
I think the description of the act of quietly watching a river flow is an (actually, rather old) metaphor for inner peace or "centeredness". It reminds me of a dream comic strip story by Jim Woodring where he and his son are sitting down by the river, and it's reminding Jim of his own youth, and his ability at the time to just sit and watch the river flow for hours on end. Ironically, his son then runs away to get into some kind of mischief or other!
I think the rest of the song makes pretty good sense in this light.