The narrator of the song laments her inability to swim across the river to reach the house, the boy with whom she wants to be romantically involved, and a life that was meant for her. She rejects the allure of gold across the river, preferring to avoid the chase for material wealth and prioritize staying true to herself.

Meaning of "Alas I Cannot Swim" by Laura Marling

The lyrics of "Alas I Cannot Swim" by Laura Marling explore themes of missed opportunities, unfulfilled desires, and the rejection of societal expectations. The river represents a barrier between the narrator and what she truly desires in life, be it love, happiness, or self-fulfillment. The inability to swim symbolizes a lack of agency or ability to take risks and seize opportunities, leading to a life of regret and misery. The gold across the river represents material wealth and societal expectations, yet the narrator values her integrity and independence over conforming to those standards. By choosing not to swim across the river for gold, the narrator emphasizes the importance of staying true to oneself and resisting the superficial allure of wealth and societal approval.