Song Meaning
The narrator is drowning in a profound sense of absence, yearning for a lost or distant love. The opening lines immediately establish a tone of desperate longing, with "hungered for your touch" painting a visceral picture of physical and emotional deprivation. This isn't just a casual missing; it's a deep, gnawing need that has persisted "a long lonely time."
The central tension lies in the agonizing passage of time and the uncertainty of the beloved's continued affection. The lyrics state, "time goes by so slowly," a common refrain for those waiting, but then add, "And time can do so much," hinting at the destructive potential of separation and the fear that the relationship might have irrevocably changed. This fuels the desperate question, "Are you still mine?"
The imagery of "lonely rivers" flowing to the sea is particularly striking. These rivers, personified as sighing and waiting, mirror the narrator's own state of being. They are on a relentless journey, just as time is moving forward, but their destination – the "open arms of the sea" – represents a finality and perhaps a surrender that the narrator hopes to avoid. The plea, "wait for me," echoes this desire to halt the inevitable march of time and distance.
Ultimately, the raw, repeated declarations of need – "I need your love" – coupled with the almost prayer-like "Godspeed your love to me," reveal the core of the song's power. It's the stark, unadorned expression of vulnerability and the desperate hope that love can somehow bridge the vast expanse of time and loneliness.
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