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Then she moved back around here
Thirty-five weeks ago today
Oh down the lane
At night she walks on the banks
And remembers how she dreamed of rowing away
And how she left one day
She left with a driven look in her eyes
Came back around with it still inside
They said give it some time and you'll forget about it too
We know they always do
Well I know
Some fine day
You will find your way across the river
Across the river
Row down slow
And there's a long way to go
Across the river
Across the river
She was proud and so strong
But she tried not to listen to idle talk
Downtown where she walked
Well, they sit around and they say
That she came back with her tail between her legs
Like they always said she would
Well I hear it's better on the other side
They say you'll never do it so don't even try
Well you may be beaten down with your closed mind
But don't try and make it mine
Well I know
Some fine day
You will find your way across the river
Across the river
Row down slow
And there's a long way to go
Across the river
Across the river
Your wild days are through is what they said
I dreamed she came, when I was down
And I walked where she led
Standing on the shore
She looks to the west with a look of longing
Where the grass seems greener
But there's a hard and distant prize
It probably won't happen but I think I'll try
Well even if it doesn't happen for me
It still beats hanging 'bout here
Well I know
Some fine day
You will find your way across the river
Across the river
Row down slow
And there's a long long way to go
Across the river
Across the river
River
Won't cross the river
Across the river
Across the river
Long long way
Across the river
Across the river
Thirty-five weeks ago today
Oh down the lane
At night she walks on the banks
And remembers how she dreamed of rowing away
And how she left one day
She left with a driven look in her eyes
Came back around with it still inside
They said give it some time and you'll forget about it too
We know they always do
Well I know
Some fine day
You will find your way across the river
Across the river
Row down slow
And there's a long way to go
Across the river
Across the river
She was proud and so strong
But she tried not to listen to idle talk
Downtown where she walked
Well, they sit around and they say
That she came back with her tail between her legs
Like they always said she would
Well I hear it's better on the other side
They say you'll never do it so don't even try
Well you may be beaten down with your closed mind
But don't try and make it mine
Well I know
Some fine day
You will find your way across the river
Across the river
Row down slow
And there's a long way to go
Across the river
Across the river
Your wild days are through is what they said
I dreamed she came, when I was down
And I walked where she led
Standing on the shore
She looks to the west with a look of longing
Where the grass seems greener
But there's a hard and distant prize
It probably won't happen but I think I'll try
Well even if it doesn't happen for me
It still beats hanging 'bout here
Well I know
Some fine day
You will find your way across the river
Across the river
Row down slow
And there's a long long way to go
Across the river
Across the river
River
Won't cross the river
Across the river
Across the river
Long long way
Across the river
Across the river
Lyrics submitted by T_D_Phoenix
Across the River Lyrics as written by Jonathan Hornsby Bruce Hornsby
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think Jakkijelene got some of the meaning, but I believe it's even deeper and - at the same time - less specific. The girl's longing and dream is not necessarily Hollywood, but likely something she perceives as better, higher, more worthwhile, and certainly not just making (more) money. The narrator observes that she came back 35 weeks ago, nearly the term of a pregnancy, perhaps intimating that she went away with high hopes, got taken advantage of, got pregnant, and had to come home without achieving whatever it was she left for. The idle talk of those who observed that she's come back with her tail between her legs, "like they always said she would" speaks to the small minds, mean spirits, and petty jealousies of those who don't want someone they perceive as thinking they're "better than we are" bettering themselves. Bruce's observation and response is one of faith and assurance to the girl, and to himself, that "Some Fine Day" both of them can make it to success and escape from the morass of negativity and small mindedness that tends to suck them down.
It seems this is a song about a girl from a small town who wants to make it in Hollywood. She made a go of it but things didn't work out and she came back home. Even still, she still plans to continue following her dream despite, the negativity of those around her. One of Bruce Hornsby's best!
@jakkijelene To me it sounds like the girl may have given up, but it won't stop the narrator or others like them trying to make it where she didn't.
I think Jakkijelene got some of the meaning, but I believe it's even deeper and - at the same time - less specific. The girl's longing and dream is not necessarily Hollywood, but likely something she perceives as better, higher, more worthwhile, and certainly not just making (more) money. The narrator observes that she came back 35 weeks ago, nearly the term of a pregnancy, perhaps intimating that she went away with high hopes, got taken advantage of, got pregnant, and had to come home without achieving whatever it was she left for. The idle talk of those who observed that she's come back with her tail between her legs, "like they always said she would" speaks to the small minds, mean spirits, and petty jealousies of those who don't want someone they perceive as thinking they're "better than we are" bettering themselves. Bruce's observation and response is one of faith and assurance to the girl, and to himself, that "Some Fine Day" both of them can make it to success and escape from the morass of negativity and small mindedness that tends to suck them down.
Don't understand why she had to come back. What's with the row boat? Why look West? Why 35 weeks? What is it that might not happen for him if he leaves?
@tarstarkas I think the rowboat symbolises struggles in the river. To operate a rowboat it takes hard work (and can be a lot of hard work), strength, patience and perseverance. Esp. compared to something like a power boat.<br /> <br /> Looking west ... could she be on the east coast somewhere and looking back over a cityscape (or conversely on the west coast and looking out across the ocean, watching the sunset and dreaming ... that her dreams have not set).<br /> <br /> Not sure about the 35 weeks ... could it be that she is pregnant??