Moon River: My essay that made me ponder of life
Sharing with you how this song changed my view of life and regain enthusiasm of the challenges it always brings me.
Oh, how grateful I am that we have to make an essay that interprets and analyzes a song from college.
A decades old song that perfectly fits my old soul-Moon River it is. Of all the versions sung by various singers, three of which are remarkable to me. That of Audrey Hepburn’s-a classic fashion icon I fancy about alongside Grace Kelly — whose vocal range was the basis of the original version — that of Andy William’s whom I, every Sunday morning, immortally hear for my entire 20 years of existence from an old radio at home, and that of Frank Sinatra’s whose golden baritone voice made me feel nostalgic of old times and places I’ve never even been to — to which I wish I have.
Despite the abundance of versions made to elicit the beauty of this song, for this song interpretation and analysis, I’ll be using that of Frank Sinatra’s because it really draws from me an inexplicably specific kind of high-spirited and hopeful feeling I’ve ever felt.
With just a short lyric, composing of four verses, the first and second of which are repeated as the third and fourth verses, it was sang in a slow rhythmic, jazz standard type of music. It being a slow song may be accused to belong to some other bland songs but I kid you not, just close your eyes and feel the song as it sweeps you off your feet. The unhurried rhythm pulls you into a dream of realization. The reality of you- gazing, chasing, striving and hopeful for your dreams. Moreover, putting yourself on pursuit of your dream with a friend is a thing you’ll ever be grateful with.
Moon river wider than a mile
I’m crossin’ you in style someday
Old dream maker, you heartbreaker
Wherever you’re goin’, I’m goin’ your way
Moon River, a real river from where lyricist Johnny Mercer lived, is metaphorically alluded to “life” — our lives, and is described as “wider than a mile” meaning life as a long journey full of challenges and difficulties. Nevertheless, the persona is determined to pursue the dreams, willing
to row the boat to inch a distance and is filled with optimistic approach to life by saying “crossin’ you in a style” or simply on persona’s very own hardworking, smart way.
“Old dream maker” indeed, life has all the good things but here and there, life’s a heartbreaker, unpredictably plummeting our earned self-esteem and motivation with the challenges and difficulties of life imaginable. But determined to achieve the goals or dreams, the persona anaphorically use the word “goin’ ”to show persistence in the fourth line of the first verse.
Two drifters, off to see the world
There’s such a lot of world to seeWe’re after the same rainbow’s end, waitin’ ‘round the bend
My huckleberry friend, Moon River, and me
The role of friend in achieving our dreams is also an important meaning of the song. Eager as a child entering a class for the first time, the persona, together with a friend metaphorically alluded by “two drifters” bravely wander the world and face life with all their might. Aware of the possibility of failing, they believe that “there’s such a lot of world to see” than failure. After all,
success is nothing without failure.
There also comes this imperishable tale about the rainbow’s end where hidden are pots of gold, an allusion used to signify the persona and his friend’s goals and dreams or a thing tantamount to success. Emphasis on the joy of having a company on pursuit of your dreams is even more accentuated with an allusion to one of Mark Twain’s character — Mr. Huckleberry — a faithful and mischievous friend of Tom Sawyer, both of them have been part of my childhood that I should know how great best friends they were in their promising adventures.
This song never failed to remind me of that moment I was agog over my dreams and plansof achieving them. Whenever difficulties of life try to dim my way the way Nimbostratus cloudsdarken the sky, this song lifts the cover and show me the nobility of life.
