Notable Bill Staines songs include "Bridges," "Crossing the Water," "Sweet Wyoming Home", "The Roseville Fair", "A Place in the Choir", "Child of Mine," and "River."
His songs have been recorded by other artists including, Peter, Paul, & Mary, Makem and Clancy, Nanci Griffith, Mason Williams, The Highwaymen, Glenn Yarborough, Jerry Jeff Walker, Grandpa Jones, and Priscilla Herdman. Staines has recorded twenty-two of his own albums, fifteen of which are still in print as of 2005. His songs have been published in four songbooks, If I Were A Word, Then I'd Be A Song; River; Music To Me: The Songs of Bill Staines; and All God's Critters Got A Place In The Choir.
Staines is left-handed and plays a right-handed guitar upside-down so that the bass strings are at the bottom. He has developed his own fingerings and picking style over long years playing this way.
In 2004 his memoir, The Tour: A Life Between the Lines, was published.
River
Bill Staines Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was 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
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 city and back again
I've been moved by some things that I've learned
Met a lot of good people and I've called them friends
Felt the change when the seasons turned
I've heard all the songs that the children sing
And 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
Someday when the flowers are blooming still
Someday 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 wherever 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
The song "River" by Bill Staines is a beautiful tribute to nature and the memories it creates. The first verse talks about the singer's connection to his birthplace and the old mountains that surrounded him. He remembers the stories and legends passed down about the spring waters that flowed through his hometown. In the second verse, the singer speaks about his life journey, from the city back to his rural upbringing, and the different experiences that shaped him along the way. He has seen the beauty of nature, heard the songs of children, and felt the music within him like the wind in the autumn trees. The song ends with a hopeful note, as the singer celebrates the life he's lived and the memories that will stay with him. He looks forward to the day his river will flow into the sea.
The chorus of the song implores the river to take him along, to "sing him a song" while they journey together, moving and winding freely. The river is personified, given the human qualities of rolling, changing, and flowing to the sea. The river represents the journey of life, and the singer is content to be carried along, singing his own song along the way. The song is a reminder to enjoy the journey, to appreciate the memories created throughout life, and to find joy in the freedom of movement.
Line by Line Meaning
I was born in the path of the winter wind
I am a product of the cold and harsh conditions that life presents
I was raised where the mountains are old
I grew up in a place where time seems to stand still, where the environment is constant and unchanging
Their springtime waters came dancing down
I watched as the rivers and streams would thaw and come to life after a long, cold winter
And I remember the tales they told
I have fond memories of listening to the stories and myths that surrounded the natural world around me
The whistling ways of my younger days
The carefree and innocent days of my youth, filled with laughter and joy
Too quickly have faded on by
Those days passed by too quickly, leaving a bittersweet memory
But all of their memories linger on
I still hold onto the memories of those days, cherishing them for what they were
Like the light in a fading sky
Memories hold a special place in our hearts, much like a beautiful sunset fading into the night
I've been to the city and back again
I have ventured into the bustling and noisy city, only to return to my humble roots
I've been moved by some things that I've learned
I have had my perspectives broadened by my experiences, and I am grateful for them
Met a lot of good people and I've called them friends
I have made many wonderful friends along the way, people who have enriched my life in countless ways
Felt the change when the seasons turned
I have witnessed the natural cycles of life and the changing world around me, and have appreciated their beauty
I've heard all the songs that the children sing
I have listened to the joyful and carefree tunes of children, filling my heart with warmth and nostalgia
And listened to love's melodies
I have experienced the ups and downs of love, and have savored its beauty, even during its difficult moments
I've felt my own music within me rise
I have discovered my own passions and talents, and they fill me with joy and inspiration
Like the wind in the autumn trees
My inner music is like the rustling of autumn leaves, a peaceful and welcome sound
Someday when the flowers are blooming still
One day, when life still blooms and thrives, I know that my life will inevitably come to an end
Someday when the grass is still green
Even though everything around me may still seem vibrant and full of life, I know that I will eventually pass on
My rolling waters will round the bend
My journey will continue, like the flowing of a river, winding down a path towards the sea
And flow into the open sea
My life will eventually come to its final destination, much like a river flowing into the vast and open sea
So, here's to the rainbow that's followed me here
I celebrate the blessings and joys that have followed me through life, much like the beauty of a rainbow
And here's to the friends that I know
I express gratitude towards the wonderful people who have come into my life and made it richer
And here's to the song that's within me now
I honor my inner voice and the passions that give my life meaning and purpose
I will sing it wherever I go
I will carry my inner music with me wherever I journey in life
River, take me along in your sunshine, sing me a song
May the journey of life be filled with warmth, light, beauty, and music
Ever moving and winding and free
May life continue to flow, winding and twisting through its own natural path, always free and constantly changing
You rolling old river, you changing old river
Much like a river, life is always in motion, changing and growing with each new experience and moment
Let's you and me, river, run down to the sea
May we journey together through life's twists and turns, always moving towards our ultimate destination
Lyrics © Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: Joni Mitchell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind