Doves – Caught By The River

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Son what have you done?
you're caught by the river
you're coming undone
life you know it can't be so easy
but you can't just leave it
'cause you're not in control anymore
and you give it all away
would you give it all away now?
don't let it come apart
don't want to see you come apart
son what are you doing?
you learned a hard lesson
when you stood by the water
you and i were so full of love and hope
would you give it all up now?
would you give in just to spite them all?
and you give it all away
would you give it all away now?
don't let it come apart
don't want to see you come apart
cause you give it all away
and you give it all away now
don't let it come apart
don't want to see you come apart
lay i lay in the long grass
so many people
so many people pass
stay stay here and lie on back
get down in the cornfields
stay till we're caught at last
give it all away
give it all away now
don't let it come apart
don't want to see you come apart
and you give it all away
you give it all away now
don't let it come apart
don't want to see you come apart
and you give it all away

Send "Caught By The River" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by MDMaster

Track duration: 05:55

"Caught by the River" as written by Jimi/williams Goodwin

Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Caught By The River song meanings
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  • +1
    Song Meaning:This song has so much meaning for me its a song with a perfect message for my teenage son , He has gotten in some trouble and has run away , i dont know where he is but i know he will do the right thing , he has too much to lose too "give it all away" David, where ever you are mom loves, you please come home we can fix this, you need to come home to your family , we love you and miss you very much.
    Flag free4nowon October 18, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:The river may symbolize his emotions/love for others and how he gives it away but he loses control in the process so he is not in touch with himself. His father beckons him to lay in the cornfields until they pass, which symbolizes frutility (be frutile until you die, do not be idly going down the stream of the river). He is showing him an example. I think this is not about suicide nor drug addiction, it does not explicitly state that nor is there an inference to it. It just speaks of a man who is idle and not in control of his life but he gives love and needs to fix something (don't let it come apart). It could be about anything. But I am so tired of hearing songs about drugs. So he needs to be fruitful (meaning no idle, contribute to society) and in the process also love others. But just not one without the other. Its like a man waking up in his 40s realizing he's lived his life for everyone else but himself. And I agree you can't really be in control of life, you can only surrender your plans to God.
    Flag GrungyBeatleon July 09, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:It's about loss and moving on. A subject common in most Doves songs. It could be about suicide or drug addiction, possibly both, but the important theme is escapism generally.
    Flag delhoyaon March 10, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I agree that this song is an encouragement to someone struggling... I kind of envision someone young who is becoming frustrated with all of his efforts failing and is starting to give up hope in general...
    The first verse, (1st couple of stanzas...) kind of sets the stage...the subject of the song is "coming undone" because life has been rough for him of late, and he's been struggling. The last line "Cause you're not in control no more" leads into the first chorus which is essentially saying: you need to let go of all the things in your past/present that are haunting you and that you're trying to control. No matter how hard you try, you can't control life. Sometimes the best thing you can do is "give it all away," take things from what they are, and let them go -- lessening their control over you.

    The second verse talks about kind of similar things, I suppose. The subject learned a hard lesson -- something bad happened to him that is causing him to lose his innocent "love and hope." The narrator is saying: don't give up that innocent love and hope! Don't let the things in life force you to give up your dreams and pure love/heart. The second chorus is saying in this context: by becoming jaded you "give it all away" - this time "it" means your hopeful and loving heart...turning you into a cold and calloused person.

    I think the last verse is the narrator inviting the subject to look at the world from a more removed and relaxed perspective...seeing how "so many people" have their hardships and their struggles, but that the beauty in life still remains and can be bigger than a specific struggle if you take a step back.

    Haha sorry for such a long interpretation...I guess I got into this one! Good song :)

    PS. I think the river represents the world or life or however you want to phrase it. It just keeps going, unaware and uncaring of you jumping in it.
    Flag lshiovitzon November 28, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i agree with cileskot as well. i love the intro to this song and the image of being caught by a river is one that i'd never thought of before hearing this song, and i love it.. even though i'm not exactly sure what it means.
    Flag aliciawtfon January 03, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I agree with cileskot - this is such a beautiful song, and the phrase "give it all away" could be interpreted any number of ways. One of my favorites of all time.
    Flag anemptyroomon January 01, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:you know this song could have many meanings. it can be about losing anything important, from a life to a loved one. you really can apply these lyrics to a lot of different situations.
    Flag cileskoton April 04, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:To me its about someone who is suicidal and another person trying to help them see its not the answer.

    One of Doves best.
    Flag golightlyon November 10, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:whats all this crap about the oc? that is a shite show, i saw it on scrubs first and i immediately have to have it. its a great song, everyone should love it :D
    Flag aidan1233on July 27, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:My inital reaction to all this OC talk is similar to inbertweenmolecule's reaction... I absolutely hate that self-pitying bag of over privileged shite program. That aside, I have, as I read down (and this is saying a lot considering how bigoted I am against that show) I sawe that some of your OC viewers have been awakened to decent music. So, I say (gritted teeth) thank you OC. I hope my wife never sees this.

    Doves - saw them live in Wembley and Bolton (supporting Coldplay), their home town. Almost a spiritual experience for me. This song, and Pounding were two of the most amazing concert experiences I have ever had.
    Flag BongoBarneson July 25, 2006   Link

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