River (feat. Ed Sheeran)

"River" is a narrative-driven song that explores the destructive cycle of infidelity, guilt, and regret. The song tells the story of a man who engages in an affair with a woman who is also cheating on her partner. The relationship is portrayed as toxic and built on a foundation of revenge and lies. The central theme is the emotional and moral fallout of these actions, culminating in an unplanned pregnancy and a subsequent abortion. The lyrics delve into the male narrator's internal conflict, showcasing his awareness of his wrongdoings but his inability to stop the destructive path. Ed Sheeran's chorus, with its plea to be washed by the "river," serves as a powerful metaphor for a desire for purification and forgiveness from sin. It represents the overwhelming guilt and the idea that some mistakes create stains that cannot be easily cleansed. Ultimately, the song is a cautionary tale about the severe and lasting consequences of personal decisions, highlighting the pain and irreversible damage inflicted on all parties involved, including an unborn child.

The narrative of "River" unfolds as a dark, confessional tale of infidelity and its devastating consequences. It begins with the protagonist, voiced by Eminem, entering into an affair with a woman who is also in a relationship. She is seeking revenge on her own cheating partner, and the protagonist gets entangled in this web of deceit. He acknowledges his own flaws, describing himself as a liar and a cheat, but is drawn into the dangerous situation. The woman, hurt and looking to spite her man, suggests a tryst, referencing becoming his "Gwen Stacy," a nod to Spider-Man's tragic love interest, foreshadowing a grim outcome.

The relationship, born out of mutual betrayal, quickly spirals out of control. The protagonist finds himself unable to be honest, retreating to his music studio to avoid confronting the difficult conversations that are needed. He uses his art as both an escape and a confessional booth, a place where he doesn't need reservations to express his raw, unfiltered thoughts. He admits to preying on her vulnerability, using religious metaphors like praying at a pew, but twisting the meaning to signify a predatory action (preying vs. praying). This duality highlights his internal conflict and guilt. The chorus, soulfully delivered by Ed Sheeran, acts as a recurring plea for absolution. The 'river' symbolizes a desperate need for cleansing and forgiveness from his sins, a baptism that can wash away the guilt that now floods his conscience. The water represents the irreversible nature of his actions and the persistent, flowing pain that follows.

The story reaches its climax when the woman becomes pregnant. This unforeseen consequence forces a harsh reality upon them both. The protagonist, feeling unready and trapped, pressures her into an abortion. He frames it as a necessary evil, arguing they can't bring a child into their chaotic world, a world he himself has poisoned with his actions. He admits his cowardice, lamenting, "I made you terminate my baby." This decision becomes the central tragedy of the song. The 'love triangle' has warped into a 'rectangle,' a misshapen and broken structure with no easy way out. In the aftermath, he is haunted by regret, imagining the smile of the unborn child he'll never know. The song closes on this note of profound loss and an unending sense of guilt, with Sheeran's hook repeating like a mantra of sorrow, emphasizing that the 'river' of his transgressions will continue to run, a permanent stain on his conscience.

"River" is a collaboration between American rapper Eminem and English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran, released on December 15, 2017, as the fifth track from Eminem's ninth studio album, Revival. The song was written by Eminem (Marshall Mathers), Ed Sheeran, and producer Emile Haynie. The creative process began in March 2016 when Sheeran was on tour in Australia. He received an email from Eminem's manager, Paul Rosenberg, inviting him to send any song ideas for the upcoming album. Taking up an offer from actor Russell Crowe, Sheeran used the recording studio at Crowe's house to develop the track. There, he wrote and recorded the chorus, and played the guitar, drums, and piano parts. After sending the demo, Sheeran didn't hear back for over a year. In May 2017, he was contacted by the song's producer, Emile Haynie, who informed him that he had added to the production and that Eminem had recorded his verses. The music video, directed by Emil Nava, was released on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2018, ironically contrasting the romantic holiday with the song's dark themes. The video stars Eminem, Ed Sheeran, and actress Sarah Ashley Toups. The only time Eminem and Sheeran performed the song live together was on July 15, 2018, at Twickenham Stadium during Eminem's Revival Tour.

The song "River" is rich with symbolism and metaphors that deepen its narrative of sin and regret.

• The River: The central metaphor, the "river," symbolizes a powerful, cleansing force, akin to holy water for baptism, that the narrator desperately needs to wash away his sins of infidelity and deceit. It also represents the constant, flowing nature of guilt and painful memories that cannot be stopped or undone, as Sheeran sings, "let the river run."
• Gwen Stacy: Eminem's line, "maybe she'll be my Gwen Stacy, to spite her man," is a direct reference to the Spider-Man character. Gwen Stacy is one of Spider-Man's great loves who tragically dies. This metaphor foreshadows a disastrous and painful end to the affair.
• Chess Match: The affair is described as a "chess match," symbolizing the calculated, manipulative, and strategic nature of the relationship, which is based on revenge rather than genuine affection.
• Confessional Booth: The protagonist's retreat to the recording studio is likened to a "hole-in-the-wall diner" and a confessional booth. It's a space where he can be brutally honest and let out his frustrations and guilt without reservation, contrasting with his inability to communicate honestly in person.
• Prey/Pray: Eminem uses a pun with "prayed on you like it's church at the pew." This plays on the words 'prey' and 'pray,' suggesting he both predatorily took advantage of the woman's vulnerability and, ironically, is now seeking spiritual forgiveness for his actions.

The predominant emotional tone of "River" is one of regret, guilt, and melancholy. The song creates a dark and somber atmosphere from the outset with Ed Sheeran's apologetic and soulful chorus, establishing a mood of confession and remorse. Eminem's verses inject a sense of tension, aggression, and internal conflict as he recounts the story of the affair. His delivery is often harsh and cynical, reflecting the toxic nature of the relationship and his own self-loathing. There are clear emotional shifts throughout the song. The verses build a narrative of reckless passion and deceit, leading to moments of intense frustration and anger. However, this is always followed by the chorus, which pulls the emotional tone back to one of deep sorrow and a longing for forgiveness. The climax of the song, which details the decision to have an abortion, is laden with pain and a profound sense of loss, particularly in the line, "Bet I really woulda loved your smile." The combination of Eminem's raw, often pained, delivery and Sheeran's mournful melody creates a powerful and deeply moving emotional landscape of sin and consequence.

Upon its release, "River" was a significant commercial success, demonstrating the powerful draw of a collaboration between two of music's biggest stars. The song reached number one on the charts in several countries, including the United Kingdom, Austria, Norway, and Sweden. In the UK, it became Eminem's ninth number-one single, a record for a rapper. It also performed well in the United States, reaching the top 20. The song was the second single from the album Revival, which, despite mixed critical reviews, debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200. The music video, released on Valentine's Day 2018, garnered significant attention for its cinematic and dramatic portrayal of the song's narrative, earning a nomination for Best Cinematography at the MTV Video Music Awards. The song's raw and honest handling of sensitive topics like infidelity and abortion sparked considerable discussion, with some praising its vulnerability and storytelling. While part of the commercially successful but critically divisive Revival era, "River" stands out as a memorable track that resonated with a wide audience due to its relatable themes of mistakes and regret, and the potent combination of Eminem's lyrical storytelling and Ed Sheeran's pop sensibility.

Eminem's verses in "River" are characterized by his trademark complex, multi-syllabic, and internal rhyme schemes. He doesn't just focus on end rhymes but weaves intricate patterns throughout his bars. For example, in the opening of his first verse, he rhymes "neck scratched," "sweat jackets," "dress slacks," "mismatched," "sex addict," "get back," and "chess match" in quick succession, creating a dense and percussive texture. He often bends the pronunciation of words to fit the scheme, a technique evident in his delivery. The rhythm of his delivery is aggressive and fast-paced, reflecting the chaotic and spiraling nature of the narrative. This contrasts sharply with Ed Sheeran's chorus, which features a slower tempo, a more straightforward rhythm, and a simple rhyme scheme, providing an anchor of melodic remorse amidst the lyrical storm of the verses. This interplay between the frenetic, dense rhythm of the rapped verses and the smoother, more deliberate rhythm of the sung chorus drives the song's emotional arc from frantic confession to sorrowful reflection.

"River" showcases a blend of literary and musical techniques that enhance its narrative and emotional weight.

• Narrative Structure: The song employs a strong storytelling format, presenting a clear, linear story of an affair and its consequences, much like a short film in musical form.
• Vocal Contrast: A key stylistic choice is the contrast between Eminem's aggressive, raw, and rhythmically complex rap verses and Ed Sheeran's smooth, melodic, and emotionally vulnerable chorus. This juxtaposition highlights the duality of the protagonist's harsh actions and his underlying feelings of regret.
• Wordplay and Puns: Eminem utilizes his signature intricate wordplay, such as the "ex lacks/Ex-Lax" pun and the double meaning of "prayed/preyed on you." Another example is the line "this love triangle left us in a rectangle," which visually depicts how the situation has become misshapen and entrapping.
• Instrumentation: The song begins with a scaled-back, raw acoustic guitar, setting a somber and intimate tone. The beat then drops, and percussion enters as Eminem's verses begin, creating a more intense and driving rhythm that mirrors the escalating drama of the story.
• Imagery: The lyrics are filled with vivid imagery, such as "he's comin' home with his neck scratched" and "knife in hand, says their relationship's hangin' by a strand," which paint a clear and often harsh picture of the events unfolding.

What is the story behind Eminem's song 'River'?

The song tells a fictional story about a man who gets involved in an affair with a woman seeking revenge on her own unfaithful partner. The toxic relationship spirals, leading to an unplanned pregnancy and a subsequent abortion, followed by immense guilt and regret.

What does the 'river' symbolize in the song?

The river is a central metaphor for cleansing and purification. The narrator, burdened by his sins of cheating and deceit, wishes for the 'river' of holy water to wash over him. It also represents the unending flow of guilt and consequences that cannot be stopped.

Who wrote the song 'River'?

The song was co-written by Eminem (Marshall Mathers), Ed Sheeran, and the track's producer, Emile Haynie. Sheeran wrote and recorded the chorus and initial music in 2016, with Eminem adding his verses later.

What does the Gwen Stacy reference in 'River' mean?

The line 'maybe she'll be my Gwen Stacy' refers to the Spider-Man character who was Peter Parker's great love but suffered a tragic death. In the song, it's used as a dark piece of foreshadowing, suggesting the affair is destined to end in tragedy and pain.

When was the music video for 'River' released?

The music video for 'River' was directed by Emil Nava and released on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2018. The release date was intentionally ironic, contrasting the romantic holiday with the song's dark and painful narrative about a failed relationship.

Is the story in 'River' based on Eminem's real life?

While Eminem often draws from personal experience, the narrative in 'River' is presented as a fictional story. The behind-the-scenes video for the song confirms that it's a constructed narrative, although it explores themes of regret and mistakes that are universally relatable.

What album is 'River' from?

'River' is the fifth track on Eminem's ninth studio album, 'Revival', which was released on December 15, 2017.