Maya Hawke's song "River Like You" is about the experience of love and the metaphorical comparison of a river to a person. The lyrics suggest that the speaker has loved someone before who was like a river - powerful, overwhelming, and potentially destructive. The river in the song represents the intensity of emotions, both positive and negative, that come with loving someone deeply. The speaker takes responsibility for the outcome of their past relationship, acknowledging that they are "the one to blame" for losing their sense of self and identity ("he hallowed out my name") because of their love for the river-like person. However, this experience has not scared them away from loving again. The speaker demonstrates their resilience and ability to adapt, stating that they have "tamed the moss up on the rocks / And molded the red clay" - a metaphor for overcoming obstacles and creating something new out of seemingly impossible circumstances. The chorus of the song offers a solution for the river-like lover's pain and unhappiness: "I could swallow your river if you opened your mouth / I could swallow your sorrow if you opened your eyes." The speaker is offering to take on their lover's emotional burden and help alleviate their suffering. Ultimately, the song is about the speaker's understanding of themselves as a river too, capable of handling the intense emotions that come with love. They offer themselves as a safe place for their lover to "run into" and share their feelings. The line "If only I were wise / I never learned to turn and run / When I saw the water rise" suggests that the speaker has learned from their past mistakes and is willing to stay and weather the storm with their new love. Overall, "River Like You" is a poetic reflection on the complexities of love, the power of metaphor, and the resilience of the human spirit.
