Boatman

Album: Bicycle (1996)
Play Video
  • Hearts were exploding around us
    As we drifted south in the bay
    The grey up above and the grey down below
    Left us with nothing to say.
    So we drifted along in the silence
    'Til the tickle of life trickled in
    And the rhythm began in the hiss of the sand
    We were catching fire again.

    Boatman, I am a river
    I am a mountain to the sea
    Boatman, taker and giver
    Can you deliver me
    And can I forever run free.

    We finally caught up to the legends
    We were walking side by side
    We'd worked up a plan to go out hand in hand
    But the long trail wasn't that wide.
    The water around us was freezing
    We laughed and threw ourselves in
    And although we were old, the sting of that cold
    Pumped up that feeling, here it is again.

    Boatman, I am a river
    I am a mountain to the sea
    Boatman, taker and giver
    Can you deliver me
    And can I forever run free.

    I'm a message in a bottle
    Adrift on a deep blue sea
    Searching for some distant shore
    Waiting for something to be.

    No longer afraid of falling
    Cut the strings from the sky
    We found level ground and set ourselves down
    Amazing we all didn't die
    We took each day as given
    Oh second by second they came
    The ice and the sun and the thundering guns
    Good God I was finally sane.

    Boatman, I am a river
    I am a mountain to the sea
    Boatman, taker and giver
    Can you deliver me
    And can I forever run free. Publisher: RECORDS ON THE WALL, INC
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 1

  • AnonymousBrother James sang this on his hourglass album. There are a few gems that Livingston wrote and James sang. Going Round One More Time and In My Reply for example.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Motley Crue

Motley CrueFact or Fiction

Was Dr. Feelgood a dentist? Did the "Crüecifixion" really happen?

Desmond Child

Desmond ChildSongwriter Interviews

One of the most successful songwriters in the business, Desmond co-wrote "Livin' La Vida Loca," "Dude (Looks Like A Lady)" and "Livin' On A Prayer."

Gavin Rossdale of Bush

Gavin Rossdale of BushSongwriter Interviews

On the "schizoid element" of his lyrics, and a famous line from "Everything Zen."

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"They're Playing My Song

Chris and his wife Tina were the rhythm section for Talking Heads when they formed The Tom Tom Club. "Genius of Love" was their blockbuster, but David Byrne only mentioned it once.

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")Song Writing

Director Mark Pellington on Pearl Jam's "Jeremy," and music videos he made for U2, Jon Bon Jovi and Imagine Dragons.

Who Wrote That Song?

Who Wrote That Song?Music Quiz

Do you know who wrote Patti Smith's biggest hit? How about the Grease theme song? See if you can match the song to the writer.