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River Songs
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Subject: Lyr Add: THAT SONG ABOUT THE RIVER From: Amos Date: 28 Aug 06 - 10:43 PM THAT SONG ABOUT THE RIVER Words and music by Steve Gillette and Charles John Quarto (c)Copyright 1990, Foreshadow Songs, BMI I've seen the paddlewheelers rollin' south on a summer's day I've seen lovers at the guardrails with stars in their lemonade. And I've heard the hobos gather, heard their banjos grace the glade Heard them sing about the river called it the lazy man's parade. CHORUS: Sing me that song about the river, green goin' away. I always did feel like a drifter, about this time of day. Last night I stood by the highway, pretended I was on my way. You know a hundred thousand headlights couldn't match the milky way. And when the moonlight touches the water, surely something touches me, And I go reaching for the river, like it,s reaching for the sea. Some things go on forever, the truth don't ever stray The wind may brush the water but the river holds her sway. |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: GUEST,banjoman Date: 29 Aug 06 - 06:30 AM What about the Ohio Boatman's Song or on a more mundane note Ferry 'cross the Mersey - River of no return - The Humber Bridge song - By the Rivers of Babylon etc etc |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Genie Date: 29 Aug 06 - 03:37 PM Does "Gently Down the Stream of Time" count? |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Roberto Date: 29 Aug 06 - 03:48 PM Percy Mayfield: The River's Invitation |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Mr Fox Date: 30 Aug 06 - 09:14 AM I remember (However hard I try not to) a 1970's folk-rock 'concept album' entitled 'When God's on the Water - A Musical Journey Down a River from Source to Sea'. It was TERRIBLE. I still sometimes wake up in a cold sweat having had a flashback of the heavy rock treatment of 'Marrowbones'. The band involved (Which had some unpronouncable and pretentiously twee 'folky' name, as I recall) actually got a contract for a second album from a (presumably tone-deaf) producer but after that thankfully vanished into the 'where are they now?' bin. |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: KenBrock Date: 30 Aug 06 - 03:25 PM Mason Williams (best known as head writer for The Smother Brothers and for "Classical Gas") recorded an album of River songs in 1984: OF TIME AND RIVERS FLOWING, drawn from a larger group that he collected for performance circa 1982. Info: http://www.masonwilliams-online.com/perfotrf.html |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: KenBrock Date: 30 Aug 06 - 03:41 PM Pete Seeger: "Sailing Down my Golden River". Bob Zentz also has a song about the James and Elizabeth Rivers in VA, "Window on the River" or something similar. There was also a song about the Kepone pollution in the James River 25 years ago: PPM (Parts Per Million). |
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Subject: Lyr Add: MESSING ABOUT ON THE RIVER From: Dave (the ancient mariner) Date: 30 Aug 06 - 04:54 PM My all time fav river song....(and the naughty version ;-) MESSING ABOUT ON THE RIVER (Tony Hatch / Les Reed) Josh MacRae - 1962 Danny Kyle - 1998 When the weather is fine you know it's the time For messin' about on the river If you take my advice there's nothing so nice As messin' about on the river There's big boats and wee boats ands all kinds of craft Puffers and keel boats and some with no raft With the wind in your face there's no finer place Than messin' about on the river There are boats made from kits that'll reach you in bits For messin' about on the river And you might want to skull in a glass fibred hull Go messin' about on the river Anchors and tillers and rudders and cleets Ropes that are sometimes referred to as sheets With the wind in your face there's no finer place Than messin' about on the river Skippers and mates and rowing club eights All messin' about on the river Capstans and quays where you tie up with ease All messin' about on the river Outboards and inboards and dinghies you sail The first thing you learn is the right way to bale In a one man canoe you're both skipper and crew Messin' about on the river Moorings and docks, tailors and locks All messin' about on the river Whirlpools and weirs that you must not go near Messin' about on the river Backwater places all hidden from view Mysterious wee islands just waiting for you So I'll leave you right now, go cast off your bow Go messing about on the river |
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Subject: Lyr Add: COOL RIVER (Kate and Ann McGarrigle) From: Janie Date: 30 Aug 06 - 10:25 PM Kate and Ann McGarrigle wrote a contemporary song that Marie Mauldar recorded. Cool River Cool river, wash my tears away Let your cool waves hide me from the day It's the only way Cool river hear my plea Take me with you to the sea, to the sea I've waded knee-high In troubles not my own Now that I'm sinking, I'm sinking all alone. Cool river, wash my tears away To the sea. To the sea. I have tried praying To God and his saints on high But they don't hear me. I'm gonna kiss this world goodbye. Cool river, wash my tears away To the sea. To the sea To the sea. To the sea. |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Genie Date: 31 Aug 06 - 02:01 AM Deep River Blues And, of course, many spirituals and/or underground railroad songs that use rivers as metaphors. E.g., Deep River Wade in the Water A River in Judea And other folk songs that use rivers/waters as other metaphors, e.g., The Water Is Wide |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Roberto Date: 31 Aug 06 - 06:31 AM Old Tar River |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Dave'sWife Date: 31 Aug 06 - 08:19 AM Mr_Fox - I thought I was the only one here who used words such as "twee". Good for you. It's an appropriate word when dealing with the type of group you described. besides myself, the only other person I ever saw use the word in print or heard use it conversation was science fiction writer Norman Spinrad. Great guy. Very bad temper. Great guy. I think he's an Ex-Pat still living in France. (Not that anyone cares) |
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Subject: Lyr Add: MURRUMBIDGEE WATER (John Warner) From: freda underhill Date: 31 Aug 06 - 08:27 AM MURRUMBIDGEE WATER © John Warner 25.05.98 Written by John Warner for the song and verse cycle, Yarri of Wiradjuri. Murrumbidgee Water - the second song in the cycle - celebrates the river and its importance to the indigenous people and establishes the Murrumbidgee River and Morley's Creek as the Mother and the Daughter Born in the highland snows, Wild in her youth's descending, Swiftly she fills and grows Out on her floodplains, winding and bending, Feeding the towering gums, Bush in creek and gully, Sharing her bounties wide, Spreading soil in plain and valley. Murrumbidgee fair, Murrumbidgee fertile, Nurturing at your breasts we who walk here for a little while. High on a ridge we stand, gazing in love and awe Over the lands you made with your gentle hands: how rich the gifts you pour. Over her years of floods, Current twisting wild and strong, Children she made in the land, Creek and anabranch, pond and billabong. Bright on the wide floodplain Glints the rippling water, Proudly side by side, Flow the mother and the daughter. Murrumbidgee fair, Murrumbidgee fertile, Nurturing at your breasts we who walk here for a little while. High on a ridge we stand, gazing in love and awe Over the lands you made with your gentle hands: how rich the gifts you pour. We have known the drought, we have seen her anger, Hurling trees in her rage, we've borne thirst and we've borne hunger. Yet for us who seek, beauty waits in hiding, In some shaded pools wait the fruits of her providing. Silver mist like hair, As the day is dawning, Marks the river's way As we hunt on a winter's morning, Duck and cod from the stream, Fruit and fungus, plant and seed, Kangaroo on the plain, See, she gives us all we need. Murrumbidgee fair, Murrumbidgee fertile, Nurturing at your breasts we who walk here for a little while. High on a ridge we stand, gazing in love and awe Over the lands you made with your gentle hands: how rich the gifts you pour. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: REEDY RIVER (Henry Lawson) From: freda underhill Date: 31 Aug 06 - 08:32 AM REEDY RIVER Henry Lawson
Ten miles down Reedy River a pool of water lies,
Around the lower edges there waves a bed of reeds,
Beneath the granite ridges the eye may just discern
Ten miles down Reedy River one Sunday afternoon,
Then home along the river that night we rode a race,
Ten miles from Ryan’s Crossing and five below the peak,
Now still down Reedy River the grassy sheoaks sigh,
But of the hut I builded there are no traces now. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: DOWN BY THE LIFFEYSIDE (Peadar Kearney) From: Fergie Date: 31 Aug 06 - 09:36 AM And from the DT DOWN BY THE LIFFEYSIDE (Peadar Kearney) 'Twas down by Anna Liffey, my love and I did stray Where in the good old slushy mud the sea gulls sport and play. We got the whiff of ray and chips and Mary softly sighed, "Oh John, come on for a wan and wan Down by the Liffeyside." Then down along by George's street the loving pairs to view While Mary swanked it like a queen in a skirt of royal blue; Her hat was lately turned and her blouse was newly dyed, Oh you could not match her round the block, Down by the Liffeyside. And on her old melodeon how sweetly could she play.; "Good-by-ee" and "Don't sigh-ee" and "Rule Brittanni-ay" But when she turned Sinn Feiner me heart near burst with pride, To hear her sing the "Soldier's Song", Down by the Liffeyside. On Sunday morning to Meath street together we will go, And it's up to Father Murphy we both will make our vow. We'll join our hands in wedlock bands and we'll be soon outside For a whole afternoon, for our honeymoon, Down by the Liffeyside. |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Mr Fox Date: 01 Sep 06 - 08:01 AM Mrs Dave - (Brief thread hijack) 'Twee' is a good word for a lot of 1970's folk acts (especially folk/rock and some singer/songwriters of the period). Norman Spinrad was still alive and writing as of 2003 when his historical novel 'The Druid King' was published. (Right - back to the rivers)....... |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: BuckMulligan Date: 01 Sep 06 - 09:45 AM Surprised at no mention of John Hartford, "Let Him Go On Mama" and "Steamboat Whistle Blues" (and others, those are the ones that spring to mind). |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Genie Date: 01 Sep 06 - 11:49 AM Here are some of the other "@river" songs in the DT: A PICTURE FROM LIFE'S OTHER SIDE A REFRAIN OF THE RED RIVER PLANTATION AIN' NO MO' CANE ON DE BRAZIS ALL QUIET ALONG THE POTOMAC ANNAN WATER BANKS OF THE LITTLE EAU PLEINE BANKS OF THE PLEASANT OHIO BIG MUDDY BINNORIE (TWO SISTERS) CONGO RIVER CONGO RIVER (2) DE BOATMAN DANCE DELAWARE RIVER DON'T ASK WHAT A RIVER IS FOR DOWN BY THE RIVER DOWN BY TOMS RIVER DOWN THE RIVER DOWN THE RIVER (2) DRAGGING THE RIVER DRIVING LOGS ON THE CASS EN MONTANT LA RIVIERE ERIN'S FLOWERY VALE ESSIQUIBO RIVER FALL RIVER HOEDOWN (Lizzie Borden) FLAT RIVER GIRL FORTY SHADES OF GREEN GOING DOWN THE RIVER GOSPEL BOAT HOOD RIVER ROLL ON HUDSON RIVER STEAMER IF THE RIVER WAS WHISKEY IT'S THE SAME THE WHOLE WORLD OVER (3) (... when they fished 'er from the river...) JOHN O' DREAMS LA BELLE RIVIERE LAMOILLE RIVER LIGHT AT THE RIVER LITTLE RIVER LIVING ON THE RIVER MICHAEL, ROW THE BOAT ASHORE MIGHTY MISSISSIPPI MIKE FINK MONONGAHELA SAL NEW RIVER TRAIN OH, MY ROLLING RIVER OH, THE WIND AND RAIN (The Two Sisters) OLD FOLKS AT HOME (Swanee River) ON THE BANKS OF THE OLD PEDEE ONE MORE RIVER PEACE I ASK OF THEE OH RIVER PLAINS OF WATERLOO II POOR BOY PUSH BOAT RAFTSMAN`S SONG RAGING CANOE RIO GRANDE RIVER OF JORDAN RIVER OF THE BIG CANOE RIVERBOAT RIVERS OF TEXAS ROLL ON, SASKATCHEWAN ROLLING DOWN THE RIVER ROLLING TO CAIRO TOWN (ROUSTABOUT SONG) ROW ON SAILING DOWN MY DIRTY STREAM SAILING DOWN MY GOLDEN RIVER SHALL WE GATHER AT THE RIVER SHANTY BOY ON THE BIG EAU CLAIRE SHE LIVED BESIDE THE ANNER STEAMBOAT BILL STREAMS OF LOVELY NANCY SWEET THAMES FLOW SOFTLY THE BANKS OF SULLANE THE BANKS OF THE BANN THE BANKS OF THE DEE THE BANKS OF THE LEE THE DAM SONG THE FERRYBANK PIPER THE FERRYMAN THE GRAND COULEE DAM THE GREEN GRASSY SLOPES OF THE BOYNE THE GREEN MOSSY BANKS OF THE LEA THE GUM TREE CANOE THE HIPPOPOTAMUS SONG (on the banks of the cool Shalimar) THE JAM ON GERRY'S ROCKS THE JAMESTOWN FLOOD THE MAID OF MOURNE SHORE THE MEETING OF THE WATERS (original) THE MEETING OF THE WATERS OF HUDSON & ERIE THE MOTHER'S MALISON (Clyde's Water) THE OLD SHAWNEE THE RAFTSMEN THE RAGING CANAL (TWO IN THE MIDDLE) THE RIVER THE RIVER LEA THE ROAD BY THE RIVER THE ROSE (Some say love, it is a river ...) THE TOMBIGBEE RIVER (GUM TREE CANOE) THE WILD RIPPLING WATERS THIS OL' RIVERBOAT WEEL MAY THE KEEL ROW WHERE THE FRASER RIVER FLOWS WHERE THE RIVER SHANNON FLOWS WHITE WATER WILD MUSTARD RIVER YE BANKS AND BRAES (O' Bonny Doon) and not from this DT search, but I could add "Ferry 'Cross the Mersey" and "Somos El Barco" |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: LadyJean Date: 02 Sep 06 - 12:39 AM Azizzi, your song sounds like part of one my mother knew from a review called, "As Thousands Cheer". So, check that out. No one has mentioned Robert Schmertz's classic "Monongahela Sal" "Roll on Monongahela, roll on to the Ohio. You used to be so pure. Now you're just a sewer, dirtying up the Gulf of Mexico." Or the Girl Scout classic, "Peace I ask of thee oh river, peace, peace peace. When I learn to live serenely, cares will cease. From the hills I gather courage, visions of the day to be. Strength to lead and faith to follow, all are given unto me." Which is probably the work of some Girl Scout leader. |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: GrassStains Date: 02 Sep 06 - 01:01 AM Rusty Old Red River is a great song, IMO. For some reason, there is a free download on Amazon.com of Anne Hills singing that song. Carol |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Barry Finn Date: 02 Sep 06 - 03:53 AM Hey Genie You left out a few The Yellow River - I.P. Daly The Brown River - R.U. Sheedy Cry Me a River - Julie London Hell of a Wedding on the Congo - BWI The Banks of the River Charles - Boston The Banks of the Ellen - Ellenor? Old Tar River - Georgia Outer Banks Over the Water to Charlie - Jacobite By the Rivers of Babylon Jam on Gerry's Rock - lumber The Banks of the Gaspereaux - lumber By the Banks of Red Roses - love more than river? On the Banks of the Ole Tennessee - steamin Ohio River So Deep & Wide - paddlewheelin The 1st two, just jokin Good nite Barry |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Genie Date: 02 Sep 06 - 08:23 AM My list was from the DT, Barry. I left off at least half of what my "search" turned up, because the "river" connection was either minor or unclear, but I did include The Jam On Gerry's Rock. I like your 1st two suggestions. LOL Probably from the Boy Scout (unofficial) songbook, eh? Speaking of Amazon, GrassStains, there must be some songs about that one too. Which reminds me, has anyone mentioned: "Song of the Volga Boatmen?" |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Genie Date: 02 Sep 06 - 08:25 AM What's the name of that pop song about the Charles River that goes "Oh I love that dirty water. Boston, you're my home"? |
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Subject: River Songs: La Seine From: Genie Date: 02 Sep 06 - 08:37 AM Here's a French song I've known for decades. I guess the title is "La Seine," but I'm not sure. Elle recou-le, -cou-le, -cou-le Quand il entre dans Paris. Elle s'en rou-le, rou-le, rou-le Autour de ses quais fleuris. Elle se chan-te, chan-te, chan-te, Chante le jour et la nuit, Car La Seine est une amante Et son amour, c'est Paris! I think it's from the 1940s or 1950s, sung by one of those pop chanteuses (not Piaf, IIRC, but I could be wrong). I'm not having any luck googling it. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: LA SEINE (recorded by Jacqueline François From: Genie Date: 02 Sep 06 - 08:57 AM Found it. It was recorded by Jacqueline François. For those who don't know French, this is a very sensual song describing La Seine as the paramour of the city of Paris, e.g., "She sings, sings, sings, sings, sings day and night, For the Seine is a lover and her lover is Paris" or (last verse) "... for the Seine is a lover and Paris sleeps in her bed." LA SEINE La Seine est aventureuse De Châtillon à Méry, Et son humeur voyageuse Flâne à travers le pays ... Elle se fait langoureuse De Juvisy à Choisy Pour aborder, l'âme heureuse, L'amoureux qu'elle a choisi! Elle roucoule, coule, coule Dès qu'elle entre dans Paris! Elle s'enroule, roule, roule Autour de ses quais fleuris! Elle chante, chante, chante, chante, Chant' le jour et la nuit, Car la Seine est une amante Et son amant c'est Paris ! Elle traîne d'île en île, Caressant le Vieux Paris, Elle ouvre ses bras dociles Au sourire du roi Henri... Indifférente aux édiles De la mairie de Paris, Elle court vers les idylles Des amants des Tuileries! Elle roucoule, coule, coule Du Pont-Neuf jusqu'à Passy! Elle est soûle, soûle, soûle Au souvenir de Bercy! Elle chante, chante, chante, chante, Chant' le jour et la nuit... Si sa marche est zigzagante C'est qu'elle est grise à Paris! Mais la Seine est paresseuse, En passant près de Neuilly, Ah ! comme elles est malheureuse De quitter son bel ami! Dans un étreinte amoureuse Elle enlace encore Paris, Pour lui laisser, généreuse, Une boucle ... à Saint-Denis! Elle roucoule, coule, coule Sa complainte dans la nuit... Elle roule, roule, roule Vers la mer où tout finit... Elle chante, chante, chante, chante, Chant' l'amour de Paris! Car la Seine est une amante Et Paris dort dans son lit! |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: GUEST,bobkenton Date: 05 Sep 06 - 01:11 PM I'd like to recommend the lovely, cool, meandering, groovy 'The River' by Terry Reid. I've been planning a 'river' song compilation: here are some others I've thought of: 2 songs by Randy Newman: 'Louisiana 1927' and 'Burn On, Big River' from 'Good Old Boys' A song on John Martyn's 'Bless the Weather' called something like 'Back Down the River' 'Yes, the River Knows' by the Doors (Waiting For the Sun) Many Rivers to Cross - Jimmy Cliff Train and the River, by Jimmy Giuffre I cast my net wide and include 'The Rio Grande', a great jazzy choral piece by Constant Lambert from a Sachaverell Sitwell poem (1920s), and Schubert's Die Forelle (the Trout, the song, or the adaptation of its melody in the eponymous piano quintet). Why not? |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Cromdubh Date: 05 Sep 06 - 03:33 PM Proud Mary by Creedence Only Our Rivers Run Free by Mickey MacConnell |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: KenBrock Date: 05 Sep 06 - 03:42 PM "River, She Come Down" recorded by The Journeymen "Of Time and Rivers Flowing" - Pete Seeger, 1973 "Muddy Water", Roger Miller, from BIG RIVER |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: GUEST,camille Date: 03 Jun 10 - 10:26 AM Rain and the River.....that song takes me back to junior high music class around 1962. That was one cool song. In our class the boys sang the first two lines..."river looks black with the shadows on it"... then the girls sang ...."mighty black sky with the clouds above"..then the boys again sang..."still I ain't scared of the rain doggonit, river and rain are the things I love"... then in unison for the rest. We never learned the part about the levee and so on. This was in Indianapolis at an integrated school with a white music teacher. I always loved this song but couldn't find anyone else who remembered it, so thank you and thanks to Google. |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Art Thieme Date: 03 Jun 10 - 02:23 PM My cassette called ON THE RIVER is one I recorded in 2 hours because I needed a recording to sell passengers on the Julia Belle Swain where I sang for a decade-- on the Mississippi River mainly-- the Illinois River too. The passengers back then, 1986 to 1997, did nor know about or want CDs---just cassettes. I fleshed it out with live recordings from old shows of mine to be a CD for Sandy Paton on Folk Legacy Records---but it never came to fruition. (I sure do miss Sandy.) I did tell Sandy that if it came out, I wanted it to be my gift to Caroline and him. Below is what I was thinking might be included in the CD called Art Thieme--On The River CD. Mike Fink's Bet (a short tall tale) Stackerlee Bayou Sara Julia Belle Swain Blues (by me) Lost Jimmie Whalen (lumberjack tragedy on the river) What Does The Deep Sea Say Banks Of Ponchartrain Goin' To Cairo Rock River Valley (by me) Diamond Jo (about the Steamboat Diamond Jo) The State Of Illinois Waterbound Down By The Embarrass (by Win Stracke) The Big Catfish (tall tale) Shanty Boy On The Big Eau Claire Is Your Lamps Gone Out A Lock And Dam Tale (another tall tale) Annie Christmas (tall tale)/Catfish John Minimizing hard times with tall tales (spoken) 9-Pound Hammer/Big River (by Johnny Cash) The BILLDAD (a tall tale) Shenandoah The Great Turtle Drive/Red River Valley (musical saw) The Red River Shore (river variant of a Child Ballad) I hope some of these ideas might help. Art Thieme |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Art Thieme Date: 03 Jun 10 - 02:26 PM Whew, I just realized that this thread dates from 1998! Well, never mind, then. Can't believe I just typed this all out!! Sorry, Art |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Joe_F Date: 03 Jun 10 - 06:40 PM There are many flood songs among the blues. Black people's houses were among the first to go. I'd have to paw thru my records to find the titles, tho. |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego Date: 04 Jun 10 - 06:33 PM The amazing thing is that more river songs have not been written. Rivers are such enduring symbols and many have melodious names as well. Just in my personal experience in the western U.S., I know the Snake, the Virgin, the Animas, Green, Walker, Kaweah, Kings, Kern, Colorado, Gila, San Joaquin, American, Sacramento, Russian and dozens of others, large and small. Unless you live in an arid, treeless plain, you likely have one near you. Many have colorful histories as well. Maybe some will be inspired to contribute a song or two of their own. |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: GUEST,Elisabeth Date: 04 Jun 10 - 07:10 PM What about 'Only Our Rivers Run Free'? The Irish Tenors' version is wonderful. Try this: 'River Robin.' Worth looking up the film it was written for, Heart of the Golden West, just to hear the Hall Johnson Choir sing with Roy Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers. Also, 'Where the Rio Rolls Along,' another Pioneer song. Excerpt here. |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: freda underhill Date: 05 Jun 10 - 07:34 AM John Warner's wonderful song, Murrumbidgee Water, about the Murrumbidgee river in Victoria, can be heard here if you click on the CDs link. |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: open mike Date: 27 Dec 10 - 03:49 PM Bamboo... you take a stick of bamboo (repeat X2) you throw it on the water oh, oh, Hannah CH river, she come down (X2) my home's across the river, (repeat X2) My home's across the water |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Bobert Date: 27 Dec 10 - 08:07 PM Couple of my favorites: "The River" by Dan Fogleberg (very pretty song, very pretty...) and "The Big Muddy" by Bruce Springsteen... I'm sure that someone has already mentioned Neil Young's "Down by the River" and the gospel/blues song "Wade in the Water"... B~ |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Trapper Date: 28 Dec 10 - 10:06 AM I wrote a song called "Confluence" for a wedding. Here it is. - Al |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: GUEST,Frank Date: 28 Dec 10 - 11:55 PM Surely someone's mentioned "Moon River" from "Breakfast at Tiffany's". I must have missed it, and don't call me Shirley. |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: GUEST,Bob Shutt Date: 02 Jun 12 - 10:02 PM I sang this song in college glee club (50 years ago). My fragmented and probably scuffled sequence recollection goes: River looks black with the shadows on it Mighty black clouds in the sky above. Still I aint scared of the rain doggone it. River and rain are the things I love. Rain, pour down on me, I'm happy as I can be. For I love the rain and I love the river. (cant recall this line) Let the river take the cabin and the flood soak the ground. I'll build another cabin when the food goes down. What do I care if the cloud get stormy What do I care if the rain should fall. River's my pal,and the rain's my buddy. (not this line either) |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: GUEST,Beverly howard Date: 18 Aug 12 - 11:06 PM I also sang river looks black with the shadows on it way back in the early 60s. Would love to know it's origins and all the words. |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Elmore Date: 19 Aug 12 - 09:14 PM Then, there's "paddling Down the Rahway" by the sublime Kim Wallach. |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Haruo Date: 20 Aug 12 - 12:27 AM My niece drove us from Seattle to Walla Walla and back last week, and each time we crossed the Columbia (four times in total) we sang the chorus to "Roll On, Columbia" all the way across. There's a good one about the Willamette, too, but I'm drawing a blank. |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Haruo Date: 20 Aug 12 - 03:30 PM Roll, Willamette River, roll down to the sea, Roll, Willamette River, down through your green country or something like that It's driving me and Mrs. Haruo (rootbeer) up a wall not being able to find it in either personal memory, CD collection, or online... |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: GUEST Date: 23 Mar 13 - 04:17 PM Rain and the River. I, too, remember this song from my high school days I;ve wondered what its origin was. The first person who mentioned it made it sound like a spiritual, but the arrangement I recall was a bit theatrical like "Ole Man River". I thought it (Rain & River) too was from a musical, but I have never seen it mentioned anywhere except this "river string" It comes to mind and I sing it sometimes in my truck when storm clouds billow up. |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: GUEST Date: 06 May 13 - 07:58 PM I arrived at this thread trying to find the lyrics to the unnamed Rain and the River song that people keep referring to. I also learned this song in High School choir and whenever we get a storm the words just flow through my brain! :) |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: GUEST,guest Date: 06 May 13 - 11:54 PM Our folk club just had a river-themed songcircle evening last month and I've posted on our website all the songs sung. http://www.folksongsociety.org/VFSS%20Songcircle%20Song%20Lists.html Apologies if any of the titles are wrong; I just go by what the singer tells me! |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Haruo Date: 07 May 13 - 11:13 AM So, guest, is that Vancouver or Victoria? Those sound like wonderful songcircles, almost makes me want to take a day off for the commute. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: GOODBYE TO THE RIVER From: GUEST,sciencegeek Date: 07 May 13 - 11:59 AM Mike wrote this song some time ago, after reading "Goodbye to a River" - a book by John Graves, published in 1960. It is a "semi-historical" account of a canoe trip made by the author during the fall of 1957 down a stretch of the Brazos River in North Central Texas, between Possum Kingdom Dam and Lake Whitney that was slated to have as many as 13 dams built along it. He really needs to sing this one more often... sigh. GOODBYE TO THE RIVER He went back to the river with his Old Town canoe, that his father had bought when they both were young He put in his pack, with his rod and his tack and his 12 gauge Remington gun He watches the pup run along by the shore Everything's wondrous and new Thinks of old times and seasons of change Remembers when he was young too River of darkness, river of light, river so wild and free Out from the hills 'cross the West Texas plains, rolling down to the sea. The sounds of the river flow thru his mind, like the stories his grandfather told And clouds drift by on November's winds, life and the river move slow Darkness surrounds him with the coming of night The pup is asleep by the warm fireside As the embers sparkle and flicker and fly As they dance their dance cross the sky River of hardship, river of strife, river so wild and free Out from the hills 'cross the West Texas plains, rolling down to the sea He pulls into the reeds at dawn's early light, the canvasbacks fly on their way He picks up his gun, then puts it back down, there'll be no killing today As the panorama before unfolds, A tapestry woven in silvers an golds A vision of life that few will see And he feels wild and free River of history, river of life, river so wild and free Out from the hills 'cross the West Texas plains, rolling down to the sea He climbs the embankment to get to the road, hitch into town, and gives a call home I'll be back in a while, but I don't know quite when, I'll be on the river 'till then For they're building the dams at Monk and Shalan, And everything south of the Possum King Dam Will no longer be wild, and no longer be free As it slowly flows to the sea River of darkness, river of light, hardship and toil, history and life Meandering memories abide every bend He's saying goodbye to the river He's saying goodbye to a friend |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: GUEST Date: 07 May 13 - 02:12 PM We're the Vancouver Folk Song Society and we'd love to have you at our songcircles anytime, Haruo. Our themed songcircles have become so popular that last time we had insufficient space for everyone to sit and join in! Future themes (and other events) are always posted on our calendar. http://www.folksongsociety.org/VFSS%20calendar.html I've already begun posting the themes for the fall. Where are you that you're within a day's commute of Vancouver/Victoria? |
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