Feather on the Clyde Lyrics
Well there’s a river that runs through Glasgow
And it makes her but it breaks her
And takes her in two parts
And a current just like my blood flows
Down from the hills
Round aching bones to my restless heart
[Chorus]
Well I would swim but the river is so wide
And I’m scared I won’t make it to the other side
Well, God knows I’ve failed but He knows that I’ve tried
I long for something that’s safe and warm
But all I have is all that is gone
I’m as helpless and as hopeless as a feather on the Clyde
[Verse 2]
On one side all the lights glow
And the folks know and the kids go
Where the music and the drinking starts
On the other side where no cars go
Up to the hills that stand alone like my restless heart
[Chorus]
Well I would swim but the river is so wide
And I’m scared I won’t make it to the other side
Well, God knows I’ve failed but He knows that I’ve tried
I long for something that’s safe and warm
But all I have is all that is gone
I’m as helpless and as hopeless as a feather on the Clyde
The sun sets late in Glasgow
And the daylight and the city part
And I think of you in Glasgow
Cause you’re all that’s safe
You’re all that’s warm in my restless heart
About
“Feather on the Clyde” is the 11th track on British singer-songwriter Passenger’s 3rd studio album.
Passenger says of the song, “…Feather on the Clyde is a real favorite of mine just because every time I sing it or hear it I remember where I was and remember how I felt when I wrote it. Yeah, it’s one of those songs that really takes me back there instantly.”
The song is one continuous metaphor comparing himself with the city of Glasgow. He says “You get there and it’s quite a rough place, quite industrial and quite working class. It’s quite edgy…” but then says that the more you visit, the more you fall in love with the city.
“It’s kind of cold and edgy on the surface, but actually it’s got real warmth and real heart as well, and then kind of moving into my own sort of personal feelings as well and trying to intertwine the two things…”
He’s saying of himself that he is very cold and appears very indifferent on the surface but inside, he’s rather warm and passionate.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
- 2.Let Her Go
- 6.Circles
- 8.Patient Love
- 10.Holes
- 11.Feather on the Clyde
- 14.Staring at the Stars (Acoustic) (Missing Lyrics)
- 15.All the Little Lights (Acoustic) (Missing Lyrics)
- 18.Patient Love (Acoustic) (Missing Lyrics)
- 19.Life’s for the Living (Acoustic) (Missing Lyrics)
- 20.Feather on the Clyde (Acoustic) (Missing Lyrics)
