It became the theme song for Andy Williams, who first recorded the song in 1961 and performed it at the Academy Awards ceremonies in 1962. He sang the first eight bars of the song at the beginning of his television show; he also named his production company and venue in Branson, Missouri after Moon River. Williams' version was vetoed by Cadence president Archie Bleyer, who believed it had little or no appeal to teenagers. Williams' famous version never charted, except as an LP track, which he recorded for Columbia in a hit album of 1962.
The success of the song was responsible for relaunching Mercer's career as a songwriter, which had stalled in the mid-1950s because rock and roll replaced jazz standards as the popular music of the time. An inlet near Savannah, Georgia, Johnny Mercer's hometown, was named Moon River in honor of him and this song. The popularity of the song is such that it has been used as a test sample in a study on people's memories of popular songs.
The original version
Mercer and Mancini wrote the song for Audrey Hepburn to fit her vocal range. Initially the lyrics started, "I'm Holly, like I want to be / like Holly on a tree back home...", however they were later changed to fit the theme to the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's.
Although an instrumental version is played over the film's opening titles, the lyrics are first heard in a scene where Paul 'Fred' Varjak (George Peppard) discovers Holly Golightly (Hepburn) singing them, accompanied by her guitar, on the fire-escape outside their apartments.
There was much behind-the-scenes consternation which erupted when a Paramount Pictures executive suggested deleting the song from the film immediately after a very successful San Francisco preview. Hepburn's reaction has been described by Mancini and others in degrees varying from her saying "over my dead body" to her using somewhat more colorful language to make the same point.
Hepburn's version was not included in the original score album to Breakfast at Tiffany's. Instead, an album version recorded by Mancini and his chorus was released as a single and became a #11 hit. In different versions, Joel Whitburn's "Top Adult (Contemporary) Songs" reported the song as a #3 or #1 easy listening hit, due to unpublished charts in Billboard. Only months after Hepburn's death in 1993, her version was released on an album entitled Music from the Films of Audrey Hepburn.
Other recordings
"Moon River" was released by South African singer Danny Williams, and reached #1 in the UK. Shortly thereafter, Andy Williams recorded the song and made it his theme song. It was a hit for Jerry Butler in 1961, reaching #11 in the Billboard charts. Other artists that have covered the song are The Afghan Whigs, Benny Anderssons Orkester, Paul Anka, Blake, Louis Armstrong, Vince Guaraldi, Beru Revue, Mary Black, Sarah Brightman, Liz Callaway, Perry Como, Ray Conniff, Bobby Darin, Ania Dąbrowska, Dr. John, Dump, Billy Eckstine, The Four Freshmen, Connie Francis, Bill Frisell (instrumental), Emi Fujita, Judy Garland, Karel Gott, Grant Green (instrumental), Patty Griffin, The Innocence Mission (although this version is sometimes incorrectly cited as being performed by Milla Jovovich), Bradley Joseph (instrumental), Kim Yoo-jin, James Last, Joey McIntyre, Johnny Mathis, Brad Mehldau, Jane Monheit, Morrissey, Patsy Ann Noble, Jim Reeves, John Barrowman, R.E.M., Mia Riddle, Andrea Ross, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Sarah Vaughan, Nan Vernon, Kid Koala, Westlife, Victoria Williams, The Divine Comedy, and Tata Young.
Mercer himself recorded the song in 1974 for his album (appropriately named) My Huckleberry Friend.
Moon River
Aretha Franklin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm crossin' you in style someday.
Old dream maker, you heartbreaker,
Wherever you're goin', I'm goin'your way.
Two drifters, off to see the world.
There's such a lot of world to see.
We're after the same rainbow's end,
Waitin' round the bend,
Moon River and me.
The lyrics to Aretha Franklin's "Moon River" evoke a sense of wanderlust, adventure, and romance. The opening line, "Moon River, wider than a mile," sets the tone for a journey that takes the listener across an expansive landscape. The singer declares her intention to cross the river "in style someday," suggesting that she's not in a rush to get anywhere but is instead savoring the journey.
The second line introduces a metaphorical character, the "old dream maker" who is also a "heartbreaker." This figure may represent fate or destiny, which can be unpredictable and sometimes cruel. Despite this, the singer declares that she will follow the dream maker wherever he goes.
The third and fourth lines introduce the idea of the two "drifters" who are off to see the world. They are both seeking adventure and discovery, and they are united in their pursuit of a shared goal: the "rainbow's end." The final lines of the song emphasize the intimate connection between the two travelers, highlighting the singer's relationship with her "huckleberry friend" and the river itself, which becomes a symbol of the journey they are embarking upon together.
Line by Line Meaning
Moon River, wider than a mile:
The river symbolizes life's journey that seems vast and never-ending.
I'm crossin' you in style someday.
I'll cross the river with grace and ease when I achieve my goals and dreams.
Old dream maker, you heartbreaker,
The river is unpredictable and can either make dreams come true or break one's heart.
Wherever you're goin', I'm goin' your way.
No matter where life takes me, I'll follow my dreams and embrace the journey.
Two drifters, off to see the world.
The song speaks of two wanderers, each seeking their own path in life.
There's such a lot of world to see.
There is so much beauty and wonder in the world that is waiting to be discovered.
We're after the same rainbow's end,
The wanderers have a common goal of finding their own pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
Waitin' round the bend,
Their goal is just out of reach and they must continue their journey to find it.
My huckleberry friend,
The river and its journey is a friend to the wanderer, who can find solace and comfort in its unpredictable path.
Moon River and me.
The song ends by emphasizing the intimate relationship between the wanderer and the river, and their shared journey through life.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Tratore, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Johnny Mercer, Henry Mancini
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
AJ
Jam out to this almost every day
Eliya McDonald
Moon river, wider than a mile
I'm crossing you in style some day
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker
Wherever you're goin', I'm goin' your way
Two drifters, off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see
We're after the same rainbow's end, waitin' 'round the bend
My huckleberry friend, moon river, and me
Moon river, wider than a mile
I'm crossin' you in style some day
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker
Wherever you're goin', I'm goin' your way
Two drifters, off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see
We're after that same rainbow's end, waitin' 'round the bend
My huckleberry friend, moon river, and me
Mrspain 79
Her interpreting skill are the best!!
Bilal Karah
Every time I listen to this, it sounds like she's flying.
Jay Smith
Sang Aretha!!
Saxgurl Barb
Wow!