Bob Dylan: His Life and His Lyrics
Watching The River Flow
Lyric Analysis
Lesson Plan
Developed by: W. Huitt
Last Revised: February 2007
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Primary Concept: Adult Activities and Lifestyle
Masterwork: Watching The River Flow (1971) – by Bob Dylan
Significant Question: How do experiences in middle adulthood impact perceptions, ideas, values, and goals?
First Activity:
Read the song: http://www.bobdylan.com/songs/riverflow.html
Listen to a sample of Dylan singing the song: (sample)
Reflect on overall feelings evoked by the song.
Second Activity: Interpret/Reflect on the song (Guided by the instructor)
Watching The River Flow
What's the matter with me,
I don't have much to say,
Daylight sneakin' through the window
And I'm still in this all-night cafe.
Walkin' to and fro beneath the moon
Out to where the trucks are rollin' slow,
To sit down on this bank of sand
And watch the river flow.
Wish I was back in the city
Instead of this old bank of sand,
With the sun beating down over the chimney tops
And the one I love so close at hand.
If I had wings and I could fly,
I know where I would go.
But right now I'll just sit here so contentedly
And watch the river flow.
People disagreeing on all just about everything, yeah,
Makes you stop and all wonder why.
Why only yesterday I saw somebody on the street
Who just couldn't help but cry.
Oh, this ol' river keeps on rollin', though,
No matter what gets in the way and which way the wind does blow,
And as long as it does I'll just sit here
And watch the river flow.
People disagreeing everywhere you
look,
Makes you wanna stop and read a book.
Why only yesterday I saw somebody on the street
That was really shook.
But this ol' river keeps on rollin', though,
No matter what gets in the way and which way the wind does blow,
And as long as it does I'll just sit here
And watch the river flow.
Watch the river flow,
Watchin' the river flow,
Watchin' the river flow,
But I'll sit down on this bank of sand
And watch the river flow.
Third Activity:
Interpret the song in terms of Dylan’s life during 1969 through 1971