‘River Washed Hair’ by Zach Bryan - Lyrics & Meaning

Zach Bryan had been teasing ‘River Washed Hair’ for a good few months before giving it an official release as part of his surprise Streets of London EP on July 2nd 2025.

The three-song project serves as a commemorative gift to fans, following the ‘Something in the Orange’ hitmaker's ground-breaking triple-header at Dublin's Phoenix Park and his back-to-back sold-out shows at London's BST Hyde Park 2025.

Like the two other songs on the new EP, ‘Streets of London’ and ‘Song For You’, ‘River Washed Hair’ won't be appearing on Zach Bryan's keenly awaited new album, Motorbreath.

Opening with Zach Bryan's signature harmonica, ‘River Washed Hair’ finds the ‘I Remember Everything’ chart-topper offering listeners a series of nostalgic vignettes from the past.

The wistful tone of the song is reflected in the pining cry of steel that punctuates each line, with Zach Bryan keeping the composition decidedly sparse and intricate throughout. As is the case on ‘Streets of London’, ‘River Washed Hair’ sees Bryan eschewing the rowdy, barroom cries of ‘Revival’ and ‘American Nights’ in favour of a contemplative, melancholic and strikingly vulnerable ambience.

“Remember when we'd sit around an ol' fire
And you'd get your guitar out to sing
We'd sing CCR, ‘Jersey Giant’, ‘Don't Look Back in Anger’
Or anything by Bruce Springsteen
Back when ol' Anna would throw her ol' hands up
With her face framed by the fire
And it got so late, we'd take hits from a joint
Mistake shooting stars for telephone wires
And now I've grown partial to havin' a heart full
Of memories I cannot bear
The girls in summer clothes and Lord knows the soft scent
Of her long, dark, river-washed hair”

Zach Bryan begins by fondly recalling nights spent around a fire, with the Oklahoma native name-checking Creedence Clearwater Revival, Tyler Childers’ unreleased gem, ‘Jersey Giant’, Oasis’ ‘Don't Look Back in Anger’ and - of course - any song by his friend Bruce Springsteen as some of his go-to sing-a-long favourites.

Initially, it seems these memories are given a rose-tinted sheen by Zach Bryan, but he then reveals they are a source of angst and pain for him, perhaps because they contain a lover who is no longer around, or - as he seems to suggest later in the song - because they remind him of when his mother, DeAnn, was still alive.

“And I think I might pack a bag in the night
Find me some small town out west
Start over, find closure and just say "I'm sorry"
To that sweet girl who tore off that dress
The way the moon's crestin' over green pines restin'
Next to that coastline I rode
It made think of you in the dirt out in Santa Fe
And all of the good times I stole
Remember when Shawn was drunk quotin' Kerouac
Remember when Steve quit the band
I don't know nothing but if I knew something
I'd know that I've helped all I can”

Due to this sense of regret, the protagonist expresses his desire to pack it all in and escape in the middle of the night, before implying that he feels remorse for how he acted in a past relationship. Bryan explains that he longs to apologise and find some closure.

As he travels across North America - potentially on his recent motorcycle road-trip - the beautiful scenery appears to remind him of his ex and all of “the good times I stole”. This suggests they had fun together, but because he ultimately left and the relationship ended on a sour note, it feels like he has ‘stolen’ these happy memories from her, because she can no longer look back on them as positive experiences.

Zach Bryan goes on to suggest that a band-member named Steve - potentially Steve Clark, his drummer - temporarily left the band. He also recalls an inebriated friend called Shawn quoting Jack Kerouac. Bryan has a longstanding affinity for Kerouac, and recently announced he'd be transforming Saint Jean Baptiste Church in the revered writer's hometown, and turning it into the Jack Kerouac Center. Holler published an extensive exploration into Bryan's love for Kerouac in May.

“I think it's about time that I sever it
You'd never look on me desperate
And I've never been more worried about
The state of the world, angry girl
The time to stay's passin', I think of my dad
When the army and navy game's on
And every night, I wonder if he's proud of the man
Who threw fists that late night in his lawn
I don't like being famous, they tame you then paint you
As someone that you've never been
And I'm pissed my mama can't see me singin'
For this crowd out in deep Michigan
And I'll leave you with somethin', don't leave with nothin'
Be safe on your long drive home
There ain't nothing in this poor man's apartment
Apart from bein' alone
And I wish you were around this time of year
Every time they drop that ball
Drinkin' parking lot beers while the fire disappears
Over Times Square and western home”

As ‘River Washed Hair’ draws to a close, Zach Bryan broadens his scope and begins to outline his anxieties about the general state of the world today. He then candidly admits he feels angry that his beloved mother cannot see him singing in front of colossal crowds today, as well as wondering whether his father is proud of him.

He accentuates the feeling of loneliness throughout the final few lines, with the ‘Oklahoma Smokeshow’ singer-songwriter yearning to be reunited with the woman he is addressing.

Following his BST double-header, Zach Bryan revealed via Instagram that he'd be releasing ‘River Washed Hair’ alongside ‘Streets of London’, “yoooo decided to put two songs out instead of just one so it's gonna take an extra day!! Songs'll be out Tuesday sorry sorry sorry”. Ultimately, Bryan treated us to three songs on Wednesday, July 2nd, unexpectedly adding ‘Song For You’ to the Streets of London EP.

He then added some context to the release, confirming they would not be appearing on his Motorbreath album or his With Heaven On Top EP, “they are kind of just tunes that didn't belong on the record, and they didn't fit on an EP either, so I'm just releasing them to get them out into the world cause I love them. Hope you guys enjoy them. I love each one of ya!! even the folks who talked mad shit all year”.

Bryan went on to pay tribute to how special his experience performing at BST Hyde Park 2025 has been, “also only five people ever have sold out Hyde Park two nights in a row. I have you guys to thank for it. I love you so much for showing out London. I will love your beautiful city and country forever! See you next time!”

Zach Bryan warmly concluded, “and to my best friends, my crew, and my band. What you do I'll forever be indebted for. I am so lucky to know each and every one of you and you'll be my family forever. God speed boys and girls get back home safe !!!”

“Remember when we'd sit around an ol' fire
And you'd get your guitar out to sing
We'd sing CCR, ‘Jersey Giant’, ‘Don't Look Back in Anger’
Or anything by Bruce Springsteen
Back when ol' Anna would throw her ol' hands up
With her face framed by the fire
And it got so late, we'd take hits from a joint
Mistake shooting stars for telephone wires
And now I've grown partial to havin' a heart full
Of memories I cannot bear
The girls in summer clothes and Lord knows the soft scent
Of her long, dark, river-washed hair

-

And I think I might pack a bag in the night
Find me some small town out west
Start over, find closure and just say "I'm sorry"
To that sweet girl who tore off that dress
The way the moon's crestin' over green pines restin'
Next to that coastline I rode
It made think of you in the dirt out in Santa Fe
And all of the good times I stole
Remember when Shawn was drunk quotin' Kerouac
Remember when Steve quit the band
I don't know nothing but if I knew something
I'd know that I've helped all I can

-

I think it's about time that I sever it
You'd never look on me desperate
And I've never been more worried about
The state of the world, angry girl
The time to stay's passin', I think of my dad
When the army and navy game's on
And every night, I wonder if he's proud of the man
Who threw fists that late night in his lawn
I don't like being famous, they tame you then paint you
As someone that you've never been
And I'm pissed my mama can't see me singin'
For this crowd out in deep Michigan
And I'll leave you with somethin', don't leave with nothin'
Be safe on your long drive home
There ain't nothing in this poor man's apartment
Apart from bein' alone
And I wish you were around this time of year
Every time they drop that ball
Drinkin' parking lot beers while the fire disappears
Over Times Square and western home”

For more on Zach Bryan, see below: