Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: emo
Song Meaning of “Floating Down The River” by Motion City Soundtrack
‘Floating Down the River’ by Motion City Soundtrack is a song about letting go of the past and living life with renewal. The song takes us on a journey down a metaphorical river, one that leads to an awakening of the spirit and potential for new growth.
The narrator in the song talks of being “down in the dumps,” suggesting a sense of helplessness in relation to his situation. He has the chance to break free from these stagnant feelings of discontent, however, when he notices a piece of paper drift by with “someone’s laughter” printed on it. He takes this as a sign of hope and hops in a boat, signifying his decision to take a risk and flee from his predicament.
As the song progresses, we journey down the river, with the narrator exploring an abundance of sights and sounds. We see birds soaring in the sky and hear a distant drum beat, signaling a chorus of life around him. Everything looks brighter and clearer the further along he goes, and he takes the opportunity to perceive the world in a new light.
At the end of the song, the narrator finds himself where the atmosphere is electric and the environment is alive. This is a state of euphoria, the manifestation of the idea of “floating down the river”. He is finally released from his state of insecurity, and his anxieties become lighter, allowing him to live more freely.
Ultimately, ‘Floating Down the River’ by Motion City Soundtrack is a song of liberation—one that encourages us to take the opportunity to move onward and upward, to dream and to begin anew.