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River Songs
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Subject: Info Add: RAIN AND THE RIVER (Callahan, Fox) From: Jim Dixon Date: 13 Feb 23 - 12:17 PM I believe I have identified the song that several Mudcatters have quoted above: RAIN AND THE RIVER Words by J. Will Callahan (1874-1946); music by Oscar J. Fox (1879-1961); copyright 1936. Sheet music published by: C.C. Birchard & Company, Boston. First line of verse: River looks black with the shadows on it First line of chorus: I loves the rain, and I loves the river Sheet music held by (and this information provided by): Baylor University – Arts and Special Collections Research Center Unfortunately, the sheet music is not viewable online because the song is still under copyright. You might be able to find the sheet music in a library near you by following this link to WorldCat.org. On YouTube, I found a recording by the 1983 Calhoun High School Concert Choir (of Merrick, NY) but some of the words are incomprehensible to me; you might have better success at transcribing it if you are aided by memory. I think I get the gist of it, though – and I find it rather incredible that a person would be so complacent about seeing his cabin and farm wiped out by a flood because he “loves the rain and … the river.” Are there racist assumptions built into this song? (The song seems to be written in dialect, so I assume the narrator is supposed to be black. Funny how we don’t question things if we grow up with them.) |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: GUEST,Wee Westmorland Date: 01 Feb 23 - 10:46 PM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHrmJWxpMhk Flow River |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: GUEST,Phil d'Conch Date: 01 Feb 23 - 01:55 PM Archive.org lists a little over 3500 of just 78rpm recordings with "river" in the meta data. |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Dave the Gnome Date: 01 Feb 23 - 01:24 PM There is one mentioned in the thread on title puns Song of the Vulgar boatman The lyrics are too rude to publish:-) |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: leeneia Date: 01 Feb 23 - 12:57 PM I told the Lester S. Levy Sheet Music Collection [that's a website of popular American tunes] to search for "the river", and it says it has 219 titles with those words in them. Happy browsing. |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: GUEST,James Date: 27 Jan 23 - 08:16 PM I'm very fond of A Gentle Easy-Flowing River by Alasdair Clayre. [Lyrics at Mudcat] |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: GUEST,saulgoldie Date: 27 Jan 23 - 07:35 AM From the world of "country," if you care about these distinctions: "The River" by Garth Brooks. Saul |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: GUEST,Phil d'Conch Date: 26 Jan 23 - 04:37 PM "Ohio boating-lay..." is the closest reference I could find that does not link to the Hutchinsons. But no music or lyrics for this one either: “Scene, the Thames. The Tipperary skiff is making her way with the tide. EVERARD CLIVE and the TRAVELLING BACHELOR are at the oars; the WHISKEY-DRINKER and the FENMAN are in the stern-sheets. WHISKEY-DRINKER. Ease off a little, Everard––the tide will carry her on––and give us some of your conversation, such as it is. EVERARD CLIVE. Easy it is. We'll just give a stroke or two to guide her, and draw it mild down to Kew. Bachelor, you will not object to a little “otium cum dignitate,” I suppose. TRAVELLING BACHELOR. Certainly not. We, “Laboriosi remiges Ulyssei,” have brought her smartly enough down from Twickenham. Drinker, give us the Canadian boat song. EVERARD CLIVE. Let us have something a little more novel. The Ohio boating-lay for instance. Or is there any song from the Oregon streams? I wonder whether the Yankees will get up any boat-races on the Columbia. FENMAN. They must get possession of it first, which will not be effected quite so easily, in spite of all the blustering of their press and orators. These “Sweet creatures of bombast” are like Falstaff, more prone to the exercise of the tongue than of the sword.” [Tipperary Hall, No.V, Bentley's Miscellany, Vol.19, 1846] |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: GUEST,Phil d'Conch Date: 26 Jan 23 - 04:31 PM One source, three titles: “SCOTLAND Soon, the Hutchinsons grouped themselves, as if by some irresistible attraction, and sang piece after piece, to the rapture of their hearers. Those who had heard them sing “The Cot where We were Born,” "The Ohio Boatman,” and “Excelsior,” may conceive something of our delight. And, of all things to be doing, they were teaching us to play “Fox and Geese” on the green below. They themselves played with great humor; and in the midst of our fun, I saw that all the servants of the house were looking on from the corner of the terrace, and not a few laborers from outside the gate. ENGLAND ...On one occasion we were at his concert and agreed to sing on the chorus of one of his songs. We were behind a screen, out of sight of the audience, and when we struck into the chorus of the “Boatmen of the Ohio,” it seemed as if the house would come down….” AMERICAN SONGS ...In London Mrs. Charles Dickens became their friend and invited them on one occasion to make a morning call at her house for the express purpose of singing to her father, William Hogarth, who was a musical critic of considerable repute and influence. When the Hutchinsons arrived at the appointed morning, and were introduced to a particularly cold and very serious old gentleman who seated himself stiffly at the farther end of the room, evidently prepared for the worst, their hearts misgave them. Without much reflection they struck up the “Ohio Boatman's Song.” and went through it so successfully that the stern censor at the other end of the parlor literally flew to shake them, individually, by the hand, and to assure them he has never before listened to such delicious harmony.” [Story of the Hutchinsons (tribe of Jesse), Vol.I-III, Hutchinson, 1896] |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: GUEST,Phil d'Conch Date: 26 Jan 23 - 04:29 PM RE: Ohio Boatman –– No lyrics or music and the title keeps changing ever so slightly but it's always the Hutchinsons. “Perhaps too large a proportion of their programme is devoted to painful subjects to be acceptable in this careworn land of ours; at least one or two catches sung with great neatness and an Ohio boatman's Glee, (a far-off cousin to 'The Canadian Boat Song.') fell upon the ear very cheerily after the graver ditties.” [The Eclectic Magazine, Vol.7, 1846] Hutchinson Family Singers Note: The 1845 tour of great Britain was by the Hutchinson Family quartet. There was a much later political adaptation of Emmett's De Boatmnan's Daunce for Abraham Lincoln's run, but nothing c.1840s as yet. |
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Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: HEALING RIVER (Hellerman&...) From: Tim K Date: 18 Jan 23 - 11:41 PM Healing River's a great song I haven't seen mentioned. My notes say it was written by Fred Hellerman and Fran Minkoff, and Pete Seeger and recorded it on 1964's I Can See a New Day. The lyrics: O healing river, send down your waters Send down your waters upon this land O healing river, send down your waters To wash the blood from off the sand This land is thirsting, this land is parching No seed is growing in the barren ground This land is thirsting, this land is parching O healing river, send your water down Let the seed of freedom, awake and flourish Let the deep roots nourish, let the tall stalk rise Oh seed of freedom, awake and flourish Proud leaves uncurling, into the skies For what it's worth, my simplification of the chords Pete plays go like this, transcribed Rise Up Singing style: 1st verse G D G C / G A DA D / G B7 Em A / G AmD GC G [1st v.] 2nd verse: same as first, but end of B7 instead of G 3rd verse: Em — B7 — / Em A DA D / G B7 Em A / G AmD GC G |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: GUEST,Phil d'Conch Date: 16 Jan 23 - 05:37 PM From: GUEST,banjoman Date: 29 Aug 06 - 06:30 AM What about the Ohio Boatman's Song...? Is there a tread for this song? |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: GUEST,Phil d'Conch Date: 16 Jan 23 - 05:34 PM Origins: The Brazos River / Rivers of Texas Lyr/Chords Req: Rivers of Texas |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Haruo Date: 10 May 13 - 12:19 AM In Esperanto we have (from the Scottish Gaelic, I think; it's Hebridean anyhow) Vokas la rivero (MIDI). I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the Lorelei. Haruo |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Dave the Gnome Date: 08 May 13 - 07:33 AM This is the nicest River Song I know. :-) DtG |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: kendall Date: 08 May 13 - 06:33 AM The Jam on Gerry's Rock.On the Machias river.
Mississippi River Blues: |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Tattie Bogle Date: 08 May 13 - 04:52 AM A quick trip round Scotland:
Both Sides the Tweed and probably a good few more I've missed! (And another whole lot re Lochs!) |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Airymouse Date: 07 May 13 - 05:23 PM Shawneetown (Way down the Ohio to Shawneetown) On the banks of the Merrimesee (Some Canadian mudcat can correct my spelling) Down by the Salley Gardens (In a field by the RIVER, my love and I did stand) |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Haruo Date: 07 May 13 - 03:29 PM Skyway, just SE of Seattle. It's unlikely I'll be up anytime soon, but you never know. I have my passport. ;-) Will be going (unexpectedly) to Oaxaca next month, looking forward to some Mazatec hill music there, and there will doubtless be some sing-alongs at NOREK (Esperanto regional meeting) on Vancouver Island in September. Looks like your songcircles are generally on Wednesdays, and as luck would have it I generally have Wednesday and Thursday off, which would make that an ideal evening to be out of town... We'll see... Haruo |
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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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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: 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: 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: 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 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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,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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: RE: River Songs From: Roberto Date: 31 Aug 06 - 06:31 AM Old Tar River |
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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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: Roberto Date: 29 Aug 06 - 03:48 PM Percy Mayfield: The River's Invitation |
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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: 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: 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: Amos Date: 28 Aug 06 - 10:37 PM DW: Be delighted -- but you'll have to larn me how it goes... A |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Genie Date: 28 Aug 06 - 10:28 PM erinmaidin, those are the lyrics to Bill's song "River," which some of us have listed above. It's a great song! |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: GUEST,Mary V. Date: 28 Aug 06 - 09:41 PM I didn't see Down by the Riverside! |
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Subject: Lyr Add: RIVER (Bill Staines) From: erinmaidin Date: 28 Aug 06 - 06:51 AM I was born in the path of the winter wind, Raised where the mountains are old -- Their springtime waters came dancing down, And I remember the tales they told. The whistling ways of my younger days Too quickly have faded on by, But all of their memories linger on Like the light in a fading sky. River, take me along, In your sunshine, sing me a song, Ever moving and winding and free, You rolling old river, you changing old river, Let's you and me, river, run down to the sea. I've been to the cities and back again, And I've been moved by some things that I've learned. Met a lot of good people and called them friends, Felt the change when the seasons turned. I've heard all the songs that the children sang, And I've listened to love's melodies. I've felt my own music within me rise Like the wind in the autumn trees. River, take me along, In your sunshine, sing me a song, Ever moving and winding and free, You rolling old river, you changing old river, Let's you and me, river, run down to the sea. Some day when the flowers are blooming still, Some day when the grass is still green, My rolling waters will round the bend And flow into the open sea. So here's to the rainbow that's followed me here And here's to the friends that I know, And here's to the song that's within me now -- I will sing it where'er I go. River, take me along, In your sunshine, sing me a song, Ever moving and winding and free, You rolling old river, you changing old river, Let's you and me, river, run down to the sea. (Think this is by Bill Staines and I think I got it off of an old Mary and Frances Black recording) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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Subject: Lyr Add: OH GALENA (Jim Post) From: erinmaidin Date: 28 Aug 06 - 06:48 AM "Oh,Galena" by Jim Post:L Subject: Lyr Add: OH GALENA (Jim Post) From: Melani - PM Date: 23 May 04 - 04:08 PM My papa is a slave on the Fever River, Works all day in the burnin' sun. Loadin' the wood in the red-hot smelter; He's so tired when the day is done. When the lead starts to flow into the ladle, Scrape off the top and let the pig cool down. Load the pig lead into the master's wagon, Down Stagecoach Trail to Galena town. Cho: Oh, Galena, oh, Galena, You're such a pretty little riverboat town; But I wish we could spend more time on the levee, Watchin' the riverboats come to town. A slave is only worth what his back can carry; So I guess my papa's worth about half of the world; I heard him say to mama after supper, "I wish that boy was lucky, like the girls. 'Cause the girls get to work in the nice warm kitchen, Cookin' the food and fetchin' the clothes. When the rocks freeze to the ground in the winter, That boy will sweat like a mule in the falling snow." Cho: Now slavery's not legal in Illinois; That's what I heard Reverend Cartwright say. And if someday we get our freedom, That's gonna be a dancing day. We'll build us a cabin on the Fever River, We'll file a claim and we'll dig for lead. When we hit it, then we'll be rich folks, And we'll sleep in a feather bed. Cho: |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Genie Date: 27 Aug 06 - 05:37 PM I forgot the Jimmie Rodgers song "Miss the Mississippi and You." Jimmie didn't write it, but he did a great job singing it. And can we count "Catfish John" as a river song? |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Lady Hillary Date: 27 Aug 06 - 05:02 PM Then, there's "The River's Tale." |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Dave'sWife Date: 27 Aug 06 - 01:21 PM Pete Seeger has written a few songs about the Hudson River for what it's worth. I also count The Erie Canal as a river song since the canal functioned as a river and parallels the Mohawk river for most of its length. Low bridge everybody down! Not that anyone cares, but I spent a couple of summers on archaeological digs along the Mohawk River and beside remnants of the Canal. The incidents I mentioned above took place then. Beautiful country but stuck in a pre-civil rights era, I'm afraid. The decline of the canal seems to have frozen some of the larger towns in time since no new development ensued. It's a haunted sort of place, many of those old boomtowns - not yet ghost towns but they're on their way. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: WE ARE THE RIVER From: open mike Date: 27 Aug 06 - 01:03 PM i seem to recall recently posting the lyrics to "We Are The River" but i can't find them so here you go again..maybe "someone" can do a "lyric add" ? (if not already done--the search engine seems faulty) WE ARE THE RIVER We're gonna wash your levees down Coming from the Mountain We're comin' right down thru your town We're gonna join with the other rivers You know, the dam don't stand a chance Because no dam the man can build will stand When the sea begins to dance We're gonna join with the fishes and help them on thier way though the man tries to kill them and frighten them away From the depths up to the surface you know the fishes can't be found Because only water knows where the water flows when the river's underground when the river's underground Maple buds are bloomin' and the small stream trickles down snows are a-meltin' and the river rushes round in town We'll have no more of your reservoirs keepin' us from bein' free because flood time is here my friend and we're almost to the sea, you know we're almost to the sea |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Genie Date: 27 Aug 06 - 12:12 PM Yeah, I did. 'Cep'n ah lef' the "d" offa "Old" in th' title. ;-D But, hey, it's a great song! (Especially Paul Robeson's later, consiousness-raised, new take on the song from the 1940s.) So no problem listing it twice. Bill Staines's "River" is also a great song, so I'll second that mention too. Genie |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Sorcha Date: 27 Aug 06 - 10:04 AM Nobody has said, Old Man River yet!! |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Dave'sWife Date: 27 Aug 06 - 08:51 AM Zany Mouse - I have seen people claim it as a pagan chant, an american indian song, an irish song, a welsh song and so on. Until I see some real scholorship, I'll not believe any of it. While searching fore the lyrics, I found a completely unintentionally hilarious article citing this song as one that modern suburban women should sing to their daughters at "red parties" to celebrate their menarche. Mind you, the writer wasn't actually a Wiccan, Pagan, American indian or any such thing - just a suburban mom of judeo-christian background playing at Goddess worship. Perhaps it's judgemental of me to critcize others for playing around at other people's spirituality and culture. However, I just can't help but find such things ridiculous. When I was working collecting folklore, language references and stories from real American Indians, I got to see up close and personal how painful it is for those born into a hijacked culture to have to sit by and see it adopted haphazardly by those trying on any new thing they come across. It is especially upsetting for those who have had to suffer as a result of their identity to see affluent folks of european descent claim that heritage as their own for a week or a year or so. (Until they come across something else 'cool" that "moves" them) Most of the men I collected from were High Steel workers and my simply being seen with them in a public in some towns was enough to start a fight. I once hitched a ride on the back of one Mohawk guy's motorcycle to get to a dig a friend of mine was working on and we made the mistake of stopping to get a cold drink in Fort Plain (Central Upstate NY). We never made that mistake again. End of rant - never mind me. Just getting it off my chest. |
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Subject: River Songs/ Banks Of The Wabash From: Genie Date: 27 Aug 06 - 12:32 AM Some other river songs I can think of right now: Roll On, Columbia Beautiful Ohio Watching the River Run - Loggins & Messina Let the River Run - Carly Simon Proud Mary - CCR Ol' Man River (from Showboat) Black Water - Doobie Bros. Green River - CCR River Of No Return (Marilyn Monroe sang it in the film of the same name, and the Sons Of The Pioneers recorded it) River - Joni Mitchell By The Rio Grande - Tish Hinojosa The River - Garth Brooks Red River Valley Swanee River [= Old Folks at Home] Down by the Riverside Flow Gently Sweet Afton Mississippi Mud (OK, not exactly a levee, but close - a good place to beat your feet) As for Banks of the Wabash, here's what I remember of it: Oh, the moonlight's fair (bright?) tonight along the Wabash. From the fields there comes a breath of new-mown hay. Through the sycamore, the candle lights are gleaming On the Banks Of The Wabash far away. |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Zany Mouse Date: 26 Aug 06 - 06:36 PM Amazing co-incidence: This is talked about in another current thread. What is the chance of that I wonder? Rhiannon |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Zany Mouse Date: 26 Aug 06 - 04:14 PM Dave's Wife. This is a Pagan chant. Rhiannon |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THE RIVER SHE IS FLOWING From: Dave'sWife Date: 26 Aug 06 - 03:03 PM Founds the song that LacyEMT was looking for byut not the film where I heard it sung: THE RIVER SHE IS FLOWING The river she is flowing, flowing and growing. The river she is flowing, down to the sea. Mother, carry me, your child I will always be. Mother, carry me down to the sea. The wind he is blowing, blowing and rolling The wind he is blowing all through the trees Gentle wind carry me, your child I will always be Gentle wind carry me all through the trees. The earth she is changing, changing and moving. The earth she is changing, all through the years. Mother Earth, carry me, your child I will always be. Mother Earth carry me, all through the years. The fire, he is burning, burning and glowing. The fire he is burning, ashes to dust. Fire carry me, your child I will always be. Fire carry me, ashes to dust. |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Dave'sWife Date: 26 Aug 06 - 02:21 PM I spent half an hour searching for that Grateful dead documentary with no luck. it came out after JG died but was shot over 3 summers when he was alive. Anyone?? Oh, my fave river song: Matamoros Banks off the Devils & Dust album. it's about the Rio Grande. It's a song I would love to do as a duet with someone. Amos? |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Zany Mouse Date: 26 Aug 06 - 02:12 PM I forgot to say: London River is by the much missed Rod Shearman. River Days is by one of the major hunks on the folk scenes, Barrie Temple. (Barrie you owe me a hug for that!) Rhiannon |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Zany Mouse Date: 26 Aug 06 - 02:10 PM And don't forget "River Days" and "London River" Rhiannon |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Ron Davies Date: 26 Aug 06 - 01:45 PM Don't forget Jerry Rasmussen's delightful "Living on the River" (don't think it's been mentioned yet). |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Dave'sWife Date: 26 Aug 06 - 01:22 PM >>> Subject: RE: River Songs From: LacyEMT - PM Date: 04 Nov 98 - 05:20 PM I am helping a friend search for the title and artist and other info on a song we recieved a wav. of... the beginning lyrics go : The river is flowing, flowing and flowing. The river is flowing back to the sea. Mother carry me........ it has a very familiar ring to it but we cant place it... we both really like it tho.... so any info would be greatly helpful. Thanks in advance.... please email me at LacyEMT@aol.com <<< Ya know, there is a wonderful documentary about fans of the Grateful Dead that features a girl quite high on Ex and/or LSD singing a song very much like that. it was hauntingly beautiful and I always wondered where it came from. I don't know the name of the film, but I'll look it up. I know they credited the gal in the music credits. She described learning the song from some other Deadhead who she refers to by her DH name and then launches into it acapella. later in the film, they replay her singing but add some instrumentation. I believe it may be the same song. |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Azizi Date: 26 Aug 06 - 07:58 AM Hi back, Old Grizzly. You're right. I have heard that song. Well that makes two levee songs I know. Thanks for reminding me. |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Old Grizzly Date: 26 Aug 06 - 07:53 AM Hui Aziza American Pie drove my chevvy to the levee,...... |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Azizi Date: 26 Aug 06 - 07:21 AM Come to think of it, that's the only song I can think of that mentions levees. And truth be told, until Hurricane Katrina, I didn't know what a levee is. [That may go to show you that I don't know beans about folk music. It also goes to show you that I don't get around much anymore, not that I ever did]. |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Azizi Date: 26 Aug 06 - 07:18 AM As we approach the first 'anniversary' of the nature made devastation of Hurricane Katrina and the human made devastation of what should have been done before and after that hurricane's landing in New Orleans and other parts of the US Gulf states, I got to thinking about the first I learned that mention levees. I remember learning this song in Mr. Sibrola junior high school music class many moons ago. Here are the words I remember of that song: River looks dark with the shadows on it. Mighty black clouds in the sky above. Still I aint fraid of the rain, doggone it River and rain are the things I love. Rain, fall down on me. I'm as happy as I can be. I'm gone down on the levee. Gonna build myself a rockin chair. If my lovin man don't come, I'll rock away from there. -snip- That's all I remember. Does anyone know the title of that song and other lyrics to it? And if I got the words wrong, please 'right' them for me, and add more lyrics if there are any. Thanks. |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Barbara Date: 05 Nov 98 - 03:11 PM Joe, we used to sing something similar, and I bet the tune is the same as your Racine song:
With your old sweet shop on the Wabash River How I love you with my heart and I love you with my liver Ol' Purdue. (clap clap) by the river. (clap clap) Blessings, Barbara
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Jon Eastmond Date: 05 Nov 98 - 06:33 AM Norma Waterson opens her 96 solo album with, "Black Muddy River" (Jerry Garcia/Robert Hunter) |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Joe Offer Date: 05 Nov 98 - 04:15 AM Thanks for the song, Dan. I see you left off the Mighty Root River. Come to think about it, that's just as well. It's mentioned in the Official Song of the City of Racine, Wisconsin, the Belle City of the Great Lakes: Oh, Racine, Racine, what a dirty rotten city Not all rivers are scenic, and there are parts of Wisconsin that aren't particularly pretty, either. But there were lots of things I liked about Racine, that dirty little industrial town where I grew up. It ain't as bad as Kenosha. And your song did include the Wolf, which is my favorite Wisconsin River - a nice river for canoeing and the first place I ever saw a bald eagle. -Joe Offer- The tune for my "Racine" song is more-or-less "Turkey in the Straw." Maybe it's closer to "Do Your Ears (Balls?) Hang Low?" -Joe Offer, April, 2005- |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: rich r Date: 04 Nov 98 - 07:27 PM Haven't been back to this thread in a while, so I didn't know that Joe was hankering for Rivers of Wisconsin and glad to see that Dan K heard the cry and obliged. I got Rivers of Wisconsin off Dan's album and recorded it on a private-issue cassette about 10 years ago. Since I grew up in Two Rivers, I substituted the "West Twin" for the Eau Claire. Everybody's got to add their own little touch to this kind of song. To Dan, if you are still out there, I also once swiped you version of "Oats & Beans" and medleyed it with Arlo Guthrie's "Down on the American Farm" for a stint at a local Heritage Days celeb. rich r |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: LacyEMT Date: 04 Nov 98 - 05:20 PM I am helping a friend search for the title and artist and other info on a song we recieved a wav. of... the beginning lyrics go : The river is flowing, flowing and flowing. The river is flowing back to the sea. Mother carry me........ it has a very familiar ring to it but we cant place it... we both really like it tho.... so any info would be greatly helpful. Thanks in advance.... please email me at LacyEMT@aol.com |
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Subject: Lyr Add: RIVERS OF WISCONSIN^^ From: Dan Keding Date: 04 Nov 98 - 05:05 PM Joe, Hope this is what you were looking for. The Rivers of Wisconsin I've crossed the broad Flambeau, I've forded the Fox I swum the Red Cedar, I followed the Black Sugar is muddy, the St. Croix is clear Down by the Eau Claire I courted my dear. Chorus Li la li lee la lee give me your hand (3x) There's many a river that waters our land. The sweet Chippewa it runs glossy and gliding The crooked Rock River runs weaving and winding The old Wisconsin courses the plain I never will walk by the Eau Claire again. She hugged me she kissed me she called me her dandy The Wolf is rocky the Plover is sandy She hugged me she kissed me she called me her own Down by the Eau Claire she left me a lone. The girls of the Pestigo they're fair and they're pretty The Big Rib and Yellow have many a beauty The Kickapoo flows swiftly passed girls by the score So down by the Eau Claire I'll wander no more. All I did was put in Wisconsin rivers and change a word here or there. Let people know I had something to do with it and its all yours. Enjoy Dan |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: John in Brisbane Date: 03 Nov 98 - 05:55 PM Thanks Joe, and yes I did catch the other thread. Very thoughtful of you on both counts. Regards |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Tim Jaques tjaques@netcom.ca Date: 03 Nov 98 - 07:10 AM Sorry, forgot "Sweet Thames Flow Softly". I got the title wrong. The title is "Song For The Mira", not "Out On The Mira." Pay attention, boy!:) Doesn't Kate Rusby sing one about a Scottish river on her latest CD? |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Tim Jaques tjaques@netcom.ca Date: 03 Nov 98 - 07:07 AM "The Broad Majestic Shannon", by the Pogues, or rather Shane McGowan. |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Joe Offer Date: 03 Nov 98 - 05:54 AM John in Brisbane, we wouldn't want you to get away without "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away." Click here for the song. -Joe Offer- |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: JB3 Date: 03 Nov 98 - 04:34 AM The Waters of Tyne is in the database. It's a lovely song from the Border area of England/Scotland about two lovers separated by a river. |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Tim Jaques tjaques@netcom.ca Date: 02 Nov 98 - 07:17 PM There is "Congo River", but you'd never get away with singing all the verses today. A shorter version is in the database. I can think of a couple of Canadian ones. "Roll On, Saskatchewan" and "Out On The Mira" [="Song for the Mira"](ABC's for the latter were posted earlier). And the very lively French-Canadian one, "Youpee! Youpee!", the lyrics to which I seem to recall posting in a thread some time ago. And the McGarrigle's "Matapedia", even though they have the river flowing the wrong way. |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: John in Brisbane Date: 01 Nov 98 - 06:17 PM The Jolson Story had a young Al singing Banks of the Wabash. Have never seen or heard of it elsewhere. Can anyone oblige please with the lyrics? Regards
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Joe Offer Date: 31 Oct 98 - 09:31 PM In the Lester Levy Sheet Music Collection, there are 159 pieces of music that have the word "river." One I found there that I like particularly is "Shall We Gather at the River." -Joe Offer- |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Barbara Shaw Date: 31 Oct 98 - 08:44 PM You can find a forum discussion of the song Rivers of Babylon. I also remember some old sheet music for a song called something like "By the Connecticut River Shore" but hunting through my old sheet music only turned up my sinus allergy alarms. |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Joe Offer Date: 31 Oct 98 - 12:56 PM Anybody got the lyrics to "Rivers of Wisconsin"? Are you lurking here, Dan Keding? care to share your song with us? -Joe Offer, who once lived near the mighty Root River, and canoed the Wild Wolf- |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Barry Finn Date: 31 Oct 98 - 11:39 AM Bill D, I picked up Rivers Of East Teaxs back in the 70's from Rob Joel he said he had it as a fairly old song but I can't ask him about it now he's long gone. The best I've ever heard this done was by Skip Gorman & he's recorded it but I don't know on where or what. Barry |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Roger in Baltimore Date: 30 Oct 98 - 10:34 PM Of course, the DT is full of river songs. If you just search river you get...., well, I stopped looking after 140 songs. Some just mention the word river, but songs that come to mind are "Ain't No More Cane on the Brazos", Pete Seeger's "Waist Deep in the Big Muddy", and the gospel tune "Deep River". All in the DT. Bill Staines "River" is in the DT. Try the search [river run down to the sea], it takes you right there. A song I didn't find is "Bamboo" credited to Dave Van Ronk. How about Woody's "Roll on Columbia?" Woody wrote this for pay from the US Gubmint. How politically incorrect can you get? In the DT of course! There seems to be a river of river songs out there. Roger in Baltimore |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: BSeed Date: 30 Oct 98 - 10:27 PM There are "Shenandoah," which in some versions is about the river of that name and other times about "the wide Missouri," "Banks of the Ohio," "Way Down upon the Swanee River," [= "Old Folks at Home"]and of course hundreds about the River Jordan. Not to mention "The Seine," recorded by the Kingston Trio. --that's about two minutes' worth of thinking. --seed |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Art Thieme Date: 30 Oct 98 - 09:59 PM The song I do was written by Win Stracke--a founder of the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. It's called "Down By The Embarrass"----that's pronounced "Am-braw" by the locals. It's on KM-148 __A.T.--Songs Of The Heartland__ (sung by me & Cindy Mangsen about 20 years ago) Kicking Mule Records -- now owned by Fantasy. Dan Keding's fine song was written by him. |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Bill D Date: 30 Oct 98 - 06:19 PM well, I have heard the "The River of New Jersey"...well done song...Dick Levine sings it...not sure who wrote it... and then there is 'The Rivers of Nebraska" as follows...<
"We crossed the Platte, we forded the Platte"
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: S. P. Buck Mulligan Date: 30 Oct 98 - 03:51 PM Bill Staines wrote a neat tune called "River" which does not specify a particular river, but which his fellow Granite Staters always assume is the Merrimack; could be the Saco, Piscataqua, Nashua, Androscoggin, etc. as well I suppose. don't have lyrics, but should be findable if you search the web on Bill Staines. |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: rich r Date: 30 Oct 98 - 01:39 PM Speaking of Rivers Of Texas, Art Theme has sung (written probably also) Rivers of Illinois, and Dan Keding has done Rivers of Wisconsin. That leaves 47 states unaccounted for. rich r |
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Subject: RE: River Songs From: Bill D Date: 30 Oct 98 - 11:54 AM I have been looking for almost 30 years, and I never met anyone who claimed they knew an author to "The Rivers of Texas".. I first learned it from a girl named 'Ellen' who had been in the Chicago scene in the early '60s, and she said that the story was that some guy came into a bar in Texas a few years earlier and sang it, and someone copied it down. I have no idea how true that might be..it does not 'sound' very old...but it has acted very much as a 'folk' song for 30-40 years now.. |
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Subject: River Songs From: Folk1234 Date: 30 Oct 98 - 10:30 AM This month's song swap topic is River songs. I'm seeking chords and background (I have the lyrics) on the following songs: New Harmony (Craig Johnson), Rolling to Cairo Town (Dillon Bustin), Living on the River (Jerry Rasmussen), and Rivers of Texas (??). Thanks in advance for your help.
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