Time

The lyrics express the pain of saying goodbye to someone dear while facing an uncertain future. The speaker does not know whether or when they will meet again, and the repeated farewells make the separation feel increasingly final. At the same time, time continues to move, carrying the speaker onward despite their sadness.

The river flowing to the sea is the central image: time seems unstoppable, moving in one direction until it is “gone forever.” The tide and stars that “wait” for the speaker may suggest the natural world continuing beyond the moment of parting, or a journey toward an unknown destination. The repeated phrase “who knows when” emphasizes uncertainty rather than promising a reunion.

The song can be heard as a farewell to a lover, a friend, or both; the lyrics shift between “my love” and “my friend,” leaving the relationship open. “Forever” may mean permanent separation, but it could also describe the speaker’s fear or feeling in the moment, not a certainty about what will happen. The song holds grief and acceptance together: the loss feels profound, yet life and time keep flowing.