The Humbling River
Producers
The Humbling River Lyrics
Nature, nurture heaven and home
Sum of all, and by them, driven
To conquer every mountain shown
But I've never crossed the river
Braved the forests, braved the stone
Braved the icy winds and fire
Braved and beat them on my own
Yet I'm helpless by the river
[Verse 2]
Angel, angel, what have I done?
I've faced the quakes, the wind, the fire
I've conquered country, crown, and throne
Why can't I cross this river?
Angel, angel, what have I done?
I've faced the quakes, the wind, the fire
I've conquered country, crown, and throne
Why can't I cross this river?
[Chorus]
Pay no mind to the battles you've won
It'll take a lot more than rage and muscle
Open your heart and hands, my son
Or you'll never make it over the river
It'll take a lot more than words and guns
A whole lot more than riches and muscle
The hands of the many must join as one
And together we'll cross the river
It'll take a lot more than words and guns
A whole lot more than riches and muscle
The hands of the many must join as one
And together we'll cross the river
(Nature, nurture heaven and home)
It'll take a lot more than words and guns
(Sum of all, and by them, driven)
A whole lot more than riches and muscle
(To conquer every mountain shown)
The hands of the many must join as one
And together we'll cross the river
(Braved the forests, braved the stone)
It'll take a lot more than words and guns
(Braved the icy winds and fire)
A whole lot more than riches and muscle
(Braved and beat them on my own)
The hands of the many must join as one
And together we'll cross the river
[Outro]
And together we'll cross the river
And together we'll cross the river
(Nature, nurture heaven and home)
And together we'll cross the river
And together we'll cross the river
(Nature, nurture heaven and home)
And together we'll cross the river
And together we'll cross the river
About
Possibly the most famous track off of the seventh project by Maynard James Keenan’s creative playground Puscifer, “The Humbling River” is a ballad that laments failure, portraying the tumultuous road to stardom as a battle. The track’s narrator depicts his own journey, telling us of all of the difficult things he’s accomplished, yet fallen short of at the last moment—all in the first two verses.
The next verse seems to be the narrator apologizing to someone he cares about. His failure to make it over the river is hurting this person. This conflict—keep this person close, waiting for the day he does cross the river, versus letting them go so he can’t hurt them anymore—escalates in the following verses that close the song out. The narrator insists this loved one stay close, to ignore their past victories, because crossing the river into notoriety will…
…take a lot more than rage and muscle
One day, they’ll surmount the Humbling River. One day.
This track was also heavily featured in the cinematic trailer for High Moon Studios' video game, Transformers: Fall of Cybertron.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
- 1.Polar Bear
- 7.The Humbling River
