Tuesday, August 30, 2011

"The River"

For the “California Dreamin’” writing assignment I decided to write my essay on Good Charlotte’s “The River.” I chose this particular song because I have always been interested in the Los Angeles River and its historical and cultural significance in the city. I also found Good Charlotte’s critique of the Los Angeles River as a source of “spiritual awakening” to be very controversial and relevant to the class discussion on the California Dream. In the song, Good Charlotte discusses being baptized in the Los Angeles River and how it submerges oneself into the myth and culture of the city. In the end of the song, the protagonist wishes to “find [the] way back home,” after realizing that California, particularly Los Angeles, was not the land he expected.


Los Angeles River


The River
By Good Charlotte

As I walk through the valley
Of the shadow of LA
The footsteps that were next to me
Have gone their separate ways
I've seen enough now
To know that beautiful things
Don't always stay that way
I've done enough now
To know this beautiful place
Isn't everything they say

I heard that evil comes disguised
Like a city of angels
I'm walking towards the light

Baptized in the river
I've seen a vision of my life
And I wanna be delivered
In the city was a sinner
I've done a lot of things wrong
But I swear I'm a believer
Like the prodigal son
I was out on my own
Now I'm trying to find my way back home
Baptized in the river
I'm delivered
I'm delivered

You're from a small town
You're gonna grow up fast
Underneath these lights
Down in Hollywood
On the boulevard
The dead come back to life

To the praying Mother
And the worried Father
Let your children go
If they come back
They'll come home stronger
And if they don't
You'll know

They sing that evil comes disguised
Like a city of angels
I'm walking towards the light

Baptized in the river
I've seen a vision of my life
And I wanna be delivered
In the city was a sinner
I've done a lot of things wrong
But I swear I'm a believer
Like the prodigal son
I was out on my own
Now I'm trying to find my way back home
Baptized in the river
I'm delivered
I'm delivered

Baptized in the river
Baptized in the river I wanna be delivered

Baptized in the river I wanna be delivered
Baptized in the river I wanna be delivered
Baptized in the river I wanna be delivered

I confess I'm a sinner
I've seen a vision of my life
And I wanna be delivered



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4 comments:

  1. DEAugust 31, 2011 at 4:49 PM

    I believe you chose a great song to do your "California Dreamin'" essay on as the Los Angeles River does represent spiritual cleansing in a city filled with broken dreams and regret. Do you feel as if the Los Angeles River takes on the role as one of the only landmarks in the region that is, in a sense, pure?

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  2. SaroSeptember 1, 2011 at 1:32 AM

    Thank you Demetri for your comment.
    I don’t think “pure” would be my first synonym to describe the Los Angeles River, but, yes, I think the Los Angeles River has a very clear, almost unobstructed, image. I think it does play that singular symbol of both paradise and disgust in Los Angeles. Many people dream of the Los Angeles River as a lush oasis of vegetation and sea life but, in reality, it is simply a concrete basin.

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  3. TPMSeptember 1, 2011 at 3:23 PM

    This is a great song! It's interesting that he talks about walking through the shadow of LA, because the religious theme makes me think of the Psalm that talks about walking through the valley of the shadow of death! I wonder if the artist drew that comparison purposefully?

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  4. SaroSeptember 6, 2011 at 1:55 AM

    I actually do think Good Charlotte made the comparison purposefully. If you noticed, he also makes many other biblical references throughout the song. His refrence to the prodigal son is actually a major argument in my essay.

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