The River
Written by: Garth Brooks, Victoria Shaw
You know a dream is like a river
Ever changin' as it flows Simile
And a dreamer's just a vessel
That must follow where it goes
Trying to learn from what's behind you
And never knowing what's in store
Makes each day a constant battle
Just to stay between the shores… and
I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry
Like a bird upon the wind
These waters are my sky Metaphor
I'll never reach my destination
If I never try
So I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry
Too many times we stand aside
And let the waters slip away
'Til what we put off 'til tomorrow
Has now become today
So don't you sit upon the shoreline
And say you're satisfied
Choose to chance the rapids
And dare to dance the tide . . . yes
I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry
Like a bird upon the wind
These waters are my sky
I'll never reach my destination
If I never try
So I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry
And there's bound to be rough waters
And I know I'll take some falls
But with the good Lord as my captain
I can make it through them all.. yes
I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry
Like a bird upon the wind
These waters are my sky
I'll never reach my destination
If I never try
So I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry
Yes, I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry
'Til the river runs dry
Figurative Language Explanation Page for “The River” by Garth Brooks
1.“You know a dream is like a river ever changin’ as it flows” is a simile.
2. A simile compares two unlike things using like or as.
3. In this example, a dream is being compared to a river using the word “like”; a dream and a river are different things, but are being compared because they both change as they continue.
4. The authors are saying that a dream evolves constantly, just as a river changes as it flows downstream. Both have a power, impact and movement to them that can’t be held back.They also represent that life will constantly “flow” no matter how much we want it to stay the same, so we must learn to accept change and use it to our advantage.
1. “These waters are my sky” is a metaphor.
2. A metaphor compares two unlike things.
3. In this example, waters are being compared to the sky; waters and the sky are different things, but are being compared because they both can be blue and they both can be endless before us.
4. The authors are saying that the waters lift the narrator up and buoy him on his journey. They also are the only way to reach his unknown destination, even though at times the fluidity of waters and the sky can be turbulent and fraught with danger and challenges. These two mediums represent life very well because we never know what lies around the bend, or over the horizon, but if we don’t take the risk, we will never get the reward.