☝️ Key Points
- The lyrics of the song use the image of an old ship ('River Lady') as a metaphor for ending life stages and changes
- The singer describes the lack of understanding and disrespect of people who pick up the old ship and do not appreciate its significance
- The disappearance of the ship changes the landscape of the river and is noticed by the people
- The ship seems to be a symbol of strength and endurance for the singer and he regrets its loss, especially the sound of its horn
- 'River Lady' is overall a melancholic hymn to the end of an era and the inevitability of change.
Interpretation
The lyrics of 'River Lady' by
Roger Whittaker tell a melancholic story of loss and change, personified by the image of an old ship, the 'River Lady'.
The song begins with the announcement that the river is freezing and the 'River Lady' will be taken away. This can be seen as a metaphor for the end of an era or the end of a phase of life. The singer seems to perceive this as unfair and fears that those who pick up the ship won't appreciate it in the same way he does ('I don't think they'll care').
The words 'I know they'll scrape her paint off, In their same old foolish ways' suggest that the ship will be treated in a manner that the singer considers disrespectful or inappropriate. The disappearance of the old ship leads to a change in the landscape of the river, which is noticed by the people ('Now the people see the river But the old ship's gone away').
The repeated verses 'Water turns cold and gets to freezing Before you even know it, the old girl's easing' describe how the ship slowly disappears from view. This could be a metaphor for how changes often creep in slowly and go unnoticed.
The singer expresses his memories of the ship and how he will miss the sound of its horn echoing through the mountains ('I know I will remember, When I cannot hear that horn, That would roll up by the mountains'). It seems that the ship played an important role for him and won many 'battles', suggesting it is a symbol of strength and endurance.
Overall, the song 'River Lady' seems to be a sad hymn to the end of an era and the inevitability of change, portrayed through the personification of an old, brave ship.