Billy Stewart began singing publicly with his mother's group, the Stewart Gospel Singers, as a teenager. He made the transition to secular music by filling in occasionally for the Rainbows, a D.C. area vocal group led by future soul star Don Covay. It was also through the Rainbows that Stewart met another aspiring singer, a very young Marvin Gaye. Seminal rock and roller Bo Diddley has been credited with discovering Stewart playing piano in Washington, D.C. in 1956 and inviting him to be one of his backup musicians. This led to a recording contract with Bo Diddley's label, Chess Records, and Bo Diddley played guitar on Stewart's 1956 recording of "Billy's Blues". Stewart then moved to Okeh Records and recorded "Billy's Heartache" backed by the Marquees, another D.C. area group which was now featuring Marvin Gaye.
Back at Chess in the early 1960s, Stewart began working with A&R man Billy Davis. He cut a song called "Fat Boy". Showing additional promise with his recordings of "Reap What You Sow" and "Strange Feeling", major chart success was not far away. Stewart hit both the pop and R&B charts big in 1965 with the songs, “I Do Love You” and “Sitting in the Park.” His improvisational technique of doubling-up, scatting his words and trilling his lips made his style unique in the 1960s.
In 1966, wishing to appeal to a wider audience, Stewart recorded the LP "Billy Stewart Teaches Old Standards New Tricks" in 1966. The first single released from that album was Billy's radical stand-out interpretation of the George Gershwin classic "Summertime", a top ten hit on both the pop and R&B charts in 1966. The follow-up single was Billy's remake of the Doris Day hit "Secret Love", which just missed the top ten on the R&B chart.
While Stewart continued to record throughout the remainder of the 1960s, his weight problem worsened and he developed diabetes. He also suffered minor injuries in a motorcycle accident in 1969. His life was tragically cut short on January 17, 1970, just 2 months prior to his 33rd birthday, when the car he was driving plunged into the Neuse River in North Carolina, killing him and three members of his band.
Billy Stewart was inducted into the Washington Area Music Association Hall of Fame in 1982.
Moon River
Billy Stewart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
(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
The song "Moon River" by Billy Stewart is a melancholic ballad that reflects on the desire to explore and discover the world, and the hope of forming a meaningful connection with someone along the way. The first line of the song sets a dreamlike tone, with the description of the river being "wider than a mile." This imagery is then tied to the desire to see and experience the world, which is the primary theme of the song. The following lines introduce the idea of two "drifters" who are on a journey together to explore the world. The words "waitin' 'round the bend" suggest that there is something to look forward to at the end of the journey, and that the two characters are not just wandering aimlessly.
However, running throughout the song is the idea of heartbreak and disappointment. The lyric "Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker" reflects the sense of loss that can come from chasing a dream, and the desire to find a lasting connection with someone who won't break your heart. The line "My huckleberry friend" suggests that the two characters have formed a deep bond and may be relying on each other for comfort and support. Ultimately, the song is an exploration of the beauty and pain that comes from setting out on a journey of discovery, both in terms of exploring the world and connecting with others.
Line by Line Meaning
Moon river, wider than a mile
The river, which is moonlit and beautiful, is enormous and stretches beyond the visible horizon.
I'm crossing you in style some day
Someday, I will cross this river with great panache and elegance.
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker
The person addressed as the dream maker fuels aspirations but also causes heartbreak in the process.
Wherever you're goin', I'm goin' your way
I am willing to follow the dream maker and go with them wherever they lead.
Two drifters, off to see the world
The singer and the dream maker are both wanderers, roaming the world together.
There's such a lot of world to see
The world is vast and full of opportunities to discover and explore.
We're after the same rainbow's end, waitin' 'round the bend
Both the singer and the dream maker are in pursuit of the same goal, which is just around the corner.
My huckleberry friend, moon river, and me
The singer refers to the dream maker as a close, dear friend, with whom he will venture down the moonlit river.
Writer(s): MERCER JOHN H, MERCER JOHN H, MANCINI HENRY NICOLA, MANCINI HENRY NICOLA
Contributed by Connor S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.