I think the only meaning that fits all the verses is that the river is the life, and the riverside is a state of meditation about the life.
The first strophe talks about the death, illustrated by the down of the river, where everybody goes to be alone, where you wont see any rising sun.
The second strophe is a picture about the carpe diem philosophy. When you drink to the dregs, is because you have never meditated about the life meaning (the riverside).
The third strophe retracts the influence some people have over others on determining the sense of the life.
The fourth strophe talks about when we deceive ourselves, then the life (the river) comes and washes our eyes.
The fifth strophe is a reflection about when we face the life after meditating so much about it.
The chorus is a meta-reflection, a reflection about why the writer is reflecting. "I see how everything is torn in the river deep, I don't know why I go the way down by the riverside" would mean something like "Nothing makes sense, I don't know why I keep on meditating".
Of course, this is my vision about the song meaning. I consider it could be perfectly interpreted as the thoughts of commit suicide, or attacks of anxiety.
I think the only meaning that fits all the verses is that the river is the life, and the riverside is a state of meditation about the life.
The first strophe talks about the death, illustrated by the down of the river, where everybody goes to be alone, where you wont see any rising sun.
The second strophe is a picture about the carpe diem philosophy. When you drink to the dregs, is because you have never meditated about the life meaning (the riverside).
The third strophe retracts the influence some people have over others on determining the sense of the life.
The fourth strophe talks about when we deceive ourselves, then the life (the river) comes and washes our eyes.
The fifth strophe is a reflection about when we face the life after meditating so much about it.
The chorus is a meta-reflection, a reflection about why the writer is reflecting. "I see how everything is torn in the river deep, I don't know why I go the way down by the riverside" would mean something like "Nothing makes sense, I don't know why I keep on meditating".
Of course, this is my vision about the song meaning. I consider it could be perfectly interpreted as the thoughts of commit suicide, or attacks of anxiety.