Ride Across The River Lyrics
We are the chosen, we're the partisan
Well the cause it is noble and the cause it is just
We are ready to pay with our lives if we must
Ride across the river to the other side
And we don't give a damn who the killing is for
It's the same old story with a different ending
Death or glory, it's the killing game
Ride across the river to the other side
Right becoming wrong, the left becomes the right
And they sing as they march with their flags unfurled
Today in the mountains, tomorrow the world
Ride across the river to the other side
Ride across the river to the other side
![Album art](../../../images/art-default.webp)
![Album art](../../../images/art-default.webp)
![Album art](../../../images/art-default.webp)
![Album art](../../../images/art-default.webp)
![Album art](../../../images/art-default.webp)
![Cover art for Ride Across The River lyrics by Dire Straits](https://images.songmeanings.com/52f61971-52ef-4a79-a262-e3c97d285442.webp)
A song about men fighting wars endlessly through history. It reminds me of a river I saw in a remote mountainy place in Pakistan (Gomal River). It was said to be the pass used by the army of Alexander and/or the Mongol army, when invading India from Central Asia - today in the mountains, tomorrow the world, the myth that keeps men fighting. Rivers have marked frontiers since forever. Crossing the river - as in the phrase crossing the Rubicon - is like an irrevocable step. I think the river can also be the frontier of life and death. It is at least a passage into the unknown, toward an uncertain fate.
![Cover art for Ride Across The River lyrics by Dire Straits](https://images.songmeanings.com/52f61971-52ef-4a79-a262-e3c97d285442.webp)
I always saw the first verse of the song as being sung by a rebel, and the second by his adversary - a mercenary 'dog of war', and the third is a commentary on the futility of their struggle.
The words of two characters have a certain cliched, apathetic quality to them, as if even the "soldier of freedom in the army of man" doesn't really believe in what he is doing any more. The song could be about any of the countless wars where two sides, each as bad as eachother, have duked out on the battlefield for the illusion of victory.
Yes, but he says "Now I am a soldier of fortune". That "now" seems to mean he's the same guy who has switched bands, right?
Yes, but he says "Now I am a soldier of fortune". That "now" seems to mean he's the same guy who has switched bands, right?
![Cover art for Ride Across The River lyrics by Dire Straits](https://images.songmeanings.com/52f61971-52ef-4a79-a262-e3c97d285442.webp)
It seems to be about the futility of war and the people who choose to fight. The first verse describes the idealist who is fighting for a cause, who believes his struggle is somehow special ("we are the chosen, we're the partisan"). The second verse is the mercenary who provides a contrast with the idealist- he has no illusions that what he's doing is somehow specially justified or worthwhile, all causes are alike to him, it's just business.
'Riding across the river' presumably signifies the struggle, an obstacle they need to cross. Both the idealist and the mercenary are shown engaging in this objective- it would seem there is no real distinction between the two. In war, when so many atrocities end up occurring and there is no clear sense of what is justified- "right becomes wrong, the left becomes right". Is the idealist, who thinks he is fighting for a just cause, really any better than the mercenary who has no morals, and no scruples?
![Cover art for Ride Across The River lyrics by Dire Straits](https://images.songmeanings.com/52f61971-52ef-4a79-a262-e3c97d285442.webp)
I agree with all of the above. The song is either about all soldiers or, more specifically, about soldiers turned mercenaries ("Right becomes wrong"). The beginning of the intro reminds me a bit of South American folk tunes and instruments, so I always think of guerilleros (who sometimes fight for a better society and sometimes for drug lords) when I hear it, but of course that's only a personal interpretation and certainly not intended by Mark Knopfler.
![Cover art for Ride Across The River lyrics by Dire Straits](https://images.songmeanings.com/52f61971-52ef-4a79-a262-e3c97d285442.webp)
It's about mercenaries. Here's the pivotal verse that betrays the meaning:
"I'm a soldier of fortune, I'm a dog of war And we don't give a damn who the killing is for It's the same old story with a different name Death or glory, it's the killing game"
![Cover art for Ride Across The River lyrics by Dire Straits](https://images.songmeanings.com/52f61971-52ef-4a79-a262-e3c97d285442.webp)
It's about mercenaries:
"I'm a soldier of freedom in the army of man We are the chosen, we're the partisan"
(Wikipedia: Partisan (military) - As a name for irregular forces..."
Further it sounds more like "army of a man" not "army of men" and that describes it much better.
![Cover art for Ride Across The River lyrics by Dire Straits](https://images.songmeanings.com/52f61971-52ef-4a79-a262-e3c97d285442.webp)
It's about the early eighties conflict in Central America. There is a river located near the border of two countries over which recon and hunter-killer missions were staged. Also, most all folks that venture to foreign lands and get shot at and shoot people are mercenaries. Nobody does it for fun. Been there, done that.
Just my two cents. Great song though.
![Cover art for Ride Across The River lyrics by Dire Straits](https://images.songmeanings.com/52f61971-52ef-4a79-a262-e3c97d285442.webp)
Mr. Knopflers' deep jewish heritage may actually reveal the songs meaning to be based on the book of Joshua. The Lord commands Joshua to lead the Israelite across the Jordan River into the land the Lord had given them. The soldiers are gathered and sent into battle, but God is ultimatley in control of the battle outcome. All of the towns and cities were delivered into the hands of the soldiers. Before the soldiers were ordered to attack the trumpet was sounded and that is what we hear at the songs beginning. One of many great Biblical songs he has written about. On a side note, "Dire Straights" could describe the condition the Jews were in when the had the Red Sea in fornt of them and Pharoa's army attacking from behind.....maybe?
![Cover art for Ride Across The River lyrics by Dire Straits](https://images.songmeanings.com/52f61971-52ef-4a79-a262-e3c97d285442.webp)
When I was a DJ in college, we used the intro of this song as the "bed" for our station ID. So, whenever I hear it, I can always hear, "WLHA, 94.1 FM, Madison" over it...
![Cover art for Ride Across The River lyrics by Dire Straits](https://images.songmeanings.com/52f61971-52ef-4a79-a262-e3c97d285442.webp)
This song is a part of the overall anti-war theme pervading the entire \"Brothers in Arms\" album. This song appears to be about mercenaries. It opended their Sydney 1986 concert at the Entertainment Centre (and what a great concert it was too for a band at their zenith).