The Beauty Of Door To The River - Forever Delayed

AK47 · #1 07-07-2012, 08:05

I went for a long walk this morning, 7 miles in total, along side the the river taff in Cardiff. I had my ipod on random and for the first time in a number of years, "Door To The River" played. I forgot how gorgeous and mournful yet uplifting the lyrics in this song are. I would go as far as saying that they are some of the most image and thought provoking lyrics that Nicky has written in many years. The opening verse just sets the tone for the song and what it means. Personally, I see this as very much a manics "coming of age" song.

On my walk and listening to this song I couldn't help but think back to days gone by in my own life, the transition from a teenager with the world at my feet to an adult with real responsibility such as a mortgage, young baby daughter and a marriage to plan for. The song made me yearn again for those days where I could quite happily do what I wanted and wouldn't have to take into account anyone but myself. The bridge lines of "All My Best Wishes Are Just Lies" drummed it home to me as I listened that for all the plans I had in my teens, once I reached adulthood, these flights of fancy wouldn't necessarily occur or were simply not achievable once you start down the route of full time work, relationships, etc. The second verse reminds me of the man I am now looking back at my younger self and perhaps wishing I was still that same person. The verse that runs "Fearful of the future now. The future is now but its true the things you feel dont go
The people that you love hold on" rings alarmingly true also in the sense that as a man in my 30's now, I do feel fearful of the road ahead but no matter what I have loved ones around who will be there in my hour of need.

I see DTTR as an older man looking back at his younger self and this is perfectly summed up in the lines "Baby I lost my way following our star
But I guess thats just how you are, How you are, Just how you are
How you are". In my opinion, that states to me that despite all my youthful dreams and ideas, I ultimately would get swept up in the reality of life which would go to knock me off a course I thought I would stay on.

Overall, one of the most beautifully inspiring songs the manics have ever committed to tape.

Im losing all my innocence
Door to the river
I know Ive stopped making much sense
Door to the river
I think Ill leave and Ill take some rest
Door to the river

All my best wishes are just lies
Are just lies

Id love to see colours like you
Door to the river
Resurrected and feeling blue
Door to the river
Ive seen the glory and yes its true
Door to the river

Fearful of the future now
The future is now
But its true the things you feel dont go
The people that you love hold on

Baby I lost my way
Following our star
But I guess thats just how you are
How you are

The majesty, the majesty
Door to the river
Pre-eminent amongst the free
Door to the river
Happy and drifting endlessly
Door to the river

All my best wishes are just lies
Are just lies
Sun breaks and cloudbursts
The hardest of all words
The conflict of sin all kept within

Baby I lost my way
Following our star
But I guess thats just how you are
How you are
Just how you are
How you are

Littlesue · #2 07-07-2012, 08:20

It is a lovely song although I remember watching it on Youtube once and my ex walked in and asked if it was Des O'Connor

tzb · #3 07-07-2012, 08:25

I can understand that though, it's the kind of big 60s ballad they tried again with SKON, but obviously infinitely more successful. A really beautiful song which has stood the test of time. The lyrics are fine but really nothing special in isolation, more how James emotes them and the depth of emotion of the music. Love it.

AK47 · #4 07-07-2012, 08:29

I love how deep and rich the production is. I wouldn't say it is as overblown as the likes of Skon.

Flint · #5 07-07-2012, 18:10

One of their best songs, one of my favourite Wire lyrics, and one of the their biggest crimes in form of being dumped it as the 'album track' on a greatest hits album which ensures it'll never get played by them.

nocultureicons · #6 07-07-2012, 18:19

Used to hate it but I fell in love with it a few months ago.

Europa Gluten Free · #7 07-07-2012, 18:31

Biggest crime in the world is that it'll be forever forgotten as it's on the shit FD Greatest Hits.

Incredible song. Fantastic lyrics.

My fav line is "I'd love to see colours like you" - is the song not about some painting? Is it another song about De Kooning?

FacelessSenseOfVoid · #8 07-07-2012, 20:00

A bloody amazing song. Wished they had released it as a single.... And it's a crime that they only ever played it live just the once. One of the best Manics songs full stop.

Flint · #9 07-07-2012, 20:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by proevpete

My fav line is "I'd love to see colours like you" - is the song not about some painting? Is it another song about De Kooning?

Yeah, the title's taken from another DK painting but I don't think it's about him. Could be wrong though.

Eons ago I read an analysis somewhere where it was suggested that it's the thoughts of a dying man crossing into the afterlife, which is obviously nothing Nicky would ever write about but the thought's stuck in my head since and it's hard to let go of it. Fantastic set of lyrics in any case.

Mr Richey · #10 07-07-2012, 21:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by tzb

The lyrics are fine but really nothing special in isolation, more how James emotes them and the depth of emotion of the music.

I can think of so many more examples of this, where it's the delivery that sells the words. Like the chorus to "The Second Great Depression" or the moment from "Broken Up Again" where James sings "Tell me how many times can a man stifle a cry?".

Deets · #11 07-07-2012, 22:20

i never liked that song until ive discovered it one autumn when i was travelling by train, it was a twilight and the lights in the train were dim. i was watching the countryside and had this song on repeat. magnificent feeling, one of the best Manics memories ever.

deadmartyr · #12 07-07-2012, 23:04

I remember when I first heard it, that it just had to be a single and showed great promise for a new record after KYE. Fantastic, really beautiful song, I agree.

Nature's Discontent · #13 08-07-2012, 01:27

'I'd love to see colours like you'? I always thought that line went 'I'd love to seek others like you'. Guess that's for the Misheard Manics Lyrics thread though.

Amazing song, and yeah, as nocultureicons said, I used to not really like it but love it now. Certainly one of their greatest efforts. Originally I thought the title was an allusion to suicide, and maybe even to Richey's rumoured fate in the Severn. Not really sure what exactly it signifies now though, although the lyrics and the delivery always strike a chord with me too.

Ermintrude the Cow · #14 08-07-2012, 12:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by tzb

I can understand that though, it's the kind of big 60s ballad they tried again with SKON, but obviously infinitely more successful. A really beautiful song which has stood the test of time. The lyrics are fine but really nothing special in isolation, more how James emotes them and the depth of emotion of the music. Love it.

This.

It is a beautiful song though. Greater than the sum of its parts, you could say.

Phil C · #15 08-07-2012, 14:18

Lovely song, not sure if it would work as a single though and I can see why they don't play it live - unusually for the Manics the strings actually carry most of the tune, so without an orchestra it would rely too much on synths and would probably sound awful.

Also, the 'SKON' bashing in the thread is rather tedious. Aside from the size of the sound there's not much similarity between the two - one's hymnal, one's gospel. Big difference. Like saying 'Motown Junk' and 'Archives Of Pain' are similar because they're both rock songs.