i jumped in the river and what did I see?
In the Orphist underworld, there are two rivers that a soul may find when it has passed from its body.
black-eyed angels swimming with me
Most, gravely thirsty from long travel, drink from the first river they see upon their entrance, Lethe. Lethe is the river of forgetfulness, oblivion, amnesia. A draught from its shores wipes the soul's memory clean, a blank slate to be born into a new body, and try once more for salvation.
a moon full of stars and astral cars
Souls that are ready for an end to their transmigration and rebirth seek out the river Mnemosyne. Memory and knowledge of all past lives, their successes and failures, their wisdom.
all the figures i used to see
Everything you've ever seen, every place you've ever been.
all my lovers were there with me
Everyone you've ever known, every love you've ever shown.
all my past and futures
This crystal clear remembrance of all reality instantly makes impotent the entire notion of time.
and we all went to heaven in a little row boat
After seemingly endless rebirths, you finally get to cross River Styx and become truly immortal in Hades.
there was nothing to fear and nothing to doubt
Ascension.