Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: psych-rock
Song Meaning of “Caught By The River” by Doves
“Caught By The River” by Doves paints a vivid picture of a man coming to terms with his mortality. The song reflects on the passage of time, reflecting on life gone by as the narrator is “caught by the river” awaiting his fate. The lyrics are filled with metaphors of the river, such as the “current of life” and the “locked door canyon” both representing the unstoppable force of life that cannot be stopped.
The chorus paints the idea of the narrator longing for a way to outrun death, as he pleads to “not be 6 feet below” to honor the life he has lived. The lyrics are filled with desperation, as the narrator searches for a way to avoid his inevitable death and instead focus on the memories of the life he has had – something that he realizes is futile.
The song is a powerful reflection on the acceptance of one’s own mortality, and how a person must come to terms with the fact that their life will one day end. Faced with his own impending death, the narrator resolves to honor his life lived and to make the most out of the time he has left. It is a reminder of how one’s life should be spent, embracing each moment instead of focusing on an unavoidable end.