Sons of American fathers and British mothers, their fathers being military personnel stationed at the West Ruislip USAF base in London, all three attended London Central High in Bushey, Hertfordshire in the mid-60s where they met while playing in two different bands.
They eventually got together and formed the rock band America, honoring the name of the homeland they had hardly even seen during their several travels around the world. They played their first gigs in pubs and clubs in the London area, including some highlights at the Roundhouse, where Pink Floyd had been playing at the beginning of their own career.
Their first LP was recorded at Trident and Morgan studios in London and produced by Ian "Sammy" Samwell, who was known for the hits he had written for Cliff Richard, with the assistance of Jeff Dexter.
The album was initially released in Europe with only moderate success and without the breakout hit "A Horse With No Name." Samwell helped the group to record and persuaded the Warner Brothers label to release the new song on an EP which was highly popular in the United States as well as in Europe.
America the album was re-released with "Horse", and quickly went platinum with the other favorites "I Need You," "Sandman," and "Riverside." Their second album, appropriately named Homecoming, saw the band moving back to the United States to record. The most notable song was "Ventura Highway."
The group's fourth album Holiday had them with George Martin (former producer for The Beatles), who worked with them through Silent Letter in 1979 with much success. The next album, Hearts, featured "Sister Golden Hair" and "Daisy Jane."
Peek left the group after recording Harbor in 1977. The remaining duo produced many more albums and had one more significant radio hit, "You Can Do Magic," reaching #8 on the pop charts in 1982. Their last top-40 hit was "The Border," which went to #33 on the pop charts (and #4 on the adult contemporary charts) the next year.
America continued with consistent live work and sporadic recordings following their departure from Capitol Records in the mid-80s.
In 1982 America provided the soundtrack for the magical anime film The Last Unicorn. Although officially produced by an American company, the film is an important transitional work in the development of Japanese anime, since most of its animation was subcontracted to the Japanese company Topcraft. The music was composed by Jimmy Webb, though performed by America, and the title song was covered many times later on. The tone is wistful and the themes are of loss.
Beckley released a solo set - "Van Go Gan" - in 1999.
Later, in his post-America career, Peek became a born-again Christian and released some highly-successful Contemporary Christian albums. His autobiography "An American Band" chronicles America's most successful period and his own spiritual journey.
Members include:
Gerry Beckley (1970-present) - lead and backing vocals, keyboards, guitars, bass, harmonica
Dewey Bunnell (1970-present) - lead and backing vocals, guitars
Dan Peek (1970-1977) - lead and backing vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, harmonica
Don't Cross The River
America Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She's got a broken heart
She's not the kind to take you down for long
She knows and plays it smart
(Ah) and if she's comin' she's showed no mark
She's heard no whistle blowin' from the dark
She feels like leavin' and she don't know why
Don't cross the river if you can't swim the tide
Don't try denyin' livin' on the other side
All your life
You were on your own
If you want you can ride my train
And soon forget the reason that you're leaving
You'll lose yourself and then sometime
Maybe even save yourself some grievin'
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Don't cross the river if you can't swim the tide
Don't try denyin' livin' on the other side
Don't cross the river if you can't swim the tide
Don't try denyin' livin' on the other side
Don't cross the river if you can't swim the tide
Don't cross the river if you can't swim the tide
Don't cross the river if you can't swim the tide
The song Don't Cross The River by America is about a young girl who has been hurt and is now alone, trying to make sense of her life. Despite her broken heart, she is determined to move on and play it smart. Though she feels like leaving and doesn't know why, she realizes she's trapped without any bridges. The singer advises her not to cross the river if she cannot handle the tide, as denying living on the other side is not an option. He offers to take her on his train to help her forget the reason she was leaving and possibly save herself some future grief.
The river may symbolize the challenges and hardships the young girl will face while trying to move forward. The singer warns her not to cross the river, meaning not to pursue her dreams or take any steps that may cause her more pain and trouble. It's better to stay where she is and be safe or risk getting overwhelmed in the harsh realities of life. The train ride represents a way to escape temporarily from the pain and uncertainty of life, but eventually, she'll have to face the music.
The lyrics can be interpreted in different ways, but one common thread is the theme of taking risks and facing the consequences of our actions. Don't Cross The River is a poignant reminder that sometimes the best thing to do is to stay put and not push our luck beyond its limits.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a little girl out lyin' on her own
There's a vulnerable girl feeling lost and alone
She's got a broken heart
She's recently experienced emotional pain and heartbreak
She's not the kind to take you down for long
She's a resilient person who doesn't let hardship defeat her for long
She knows and plays it smart
She's wise and knows how to navigate difficult situations
She's heard no whistle blowin' from the dark
She hasn't received any warning signs that trouble is coming
She feels like leavin' and she don't know why
She feels a deep desire to escape, without understanding the reason behind it
Without no bridges she's trapped, so I sigh
She's in a situation where she feels trapped and there's no easy way out, causing the singer to sigh in sadness or resignation
Don't cross the river if you can't swim the tide
Don't attempt something difficult if you're not prepared for the risks and challenges involved
Don't try denyin' livin' on the other side
Don't pretend that the grass is always greener on the other side; acknowledge the reality of the situation
All your life
This is a transitional phrase that emphasizes the artist's point
You were on your own
Throughout their life, the listener has been alone and independent
If you want you can ride my train
If the listener wants, they can come along with the artist on their journey
And soon forget the reason that you're leaving
By joining the singer, the listener can leave their problems behind and start anew
You'll lose yourself and then sometime
By letting go of their past troubles, the listener will be able to find a new sense of self
Maybe even save yourself some grievin'
Perhaps by starting anew, the listener can avoid future emotional pain
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DANIEL M. PEEK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jimcroote3527
My favorite America song, still, after more than 50 years! I will never tire of it. Must've listened to it a thousand times.
@xerxoid9331
You know it’s excellence when after 20 years you still think “this song’s too short“.
@digggi1315
👍
@jimcroote3527
yes, too short. Just gotta play it again!
@TaylorTCarlson
The six people who disliked couldn't swim the tide.
@audreykennedy90
They drowned
@primothegreat9022
LMAO
@farristolesome4419
Anyone who doesn’t like this song is not a TRUE America fan.
This is one of their greatest songs.
@farristolesome4419
I also wanted to say that I have never heard a song by America that I did not like, this is why they are probably my very favorite band of all time.
@brettwilkinson9529
Driving from Hamilton New Zealand to see my parents in Elstow for the weekend 1985 , with this song blasting at high volume in my Ford Escort.