The River Lyrics
When the world has gone to sleep
You gotta get up
When doubts begin to rise
And the world is at your feet
You gotta get up
I cleanse in the river for somebody else,
For anyone but myself
I'm not a man of wealth
If I had all the world,
Probably give it to myself
But the trees begin to walk
And the ground begins to talk
And myself
I cleanse in the river for somebody else,
For anyone but myself
Don't you give up on me
Hold on... Hold on
I cleanse in the river for somebody else,
For anyone but myself
I cleanse in the river for somebody else,
For anyone but myself
I think it's about him admitting that he's often been selfish (like in the second verse) but trying to make a change, hence the chorus: "I cleanse in the river for somebody else, for anyone but myself", meaning that he finally wants to do something for others rather than himself. Perhaps it's a symbolic cleansing, as in atoning for his selfishness, which would explain why he's doing it "for somebody else" - because others would benefit from him becoming selfless.
Yeah, that's how I hear it. Though Aider's interpretation works, it seems out of place for the tone of the lyrics overall. It's a struggle with selfishness which he can only be "cleansed" from if he does so entirely "for somebody else".
Yeah, that's how I hear it. Though Aider's interpretation works, it seems out of place for the tone of the lyrics overall. It's a struggle with selfishness which he can only be "cleansed" from if he does so entirely "for somebody else".
I've always felt that this song is about depression and how difficult it is to get out of it, even when "reaching" out to someone else. Far too often you try and get better, but not because you want to, but because everyone around you does. It's a bit of a paradox with the "not a selfless man" part, but from the perspective of someone who struggles with depression it makes perfect sense - you beat yourself up all the time, thinking you're selfish when you see your condition hurt the ones you love, so you try and "cleanse" and wash it all off, for them. But unless you do it purely for yourself, you can't leave it behind you.
The main idea of the song is cleansing: It's not only that the speaker tries to wash away someone else's sins he has not committed. He perceives his cleaning as senseless as he notices that he washes away his sins only for the purpose of rising in other peoples' favor. Essentially, his sins are just sins in the eyes of the others.
I always believe tat this song has ecological meaning, it's clear to see. Cleaning the river is really a selfless act and it wouldn't bring you anything (materially) but it might saves lives.
Ive got a different idea That is he is selfish really inside but not showing it outside bcuz everytime he tries to be for himself n work for himself a feeling tells him that is wrong a sense of helping others ro reach their purpose so he says reach to himself, n reaching is not bad, n that he cleanse in the river but not for himself he does it for anyone but himself n thats where he is telling himself to stop that, he says u hv doubts but u gotta start being for urself , u gotta show that not just think that way N at last lines when it says dont give up on me i think he means that im putting my effort for others but its time to reach my own goal n asks others not to give up on him n his abilities I love imagine dragons n i believe every concept suits differing from one person to another.