Cher gained popularity in 1965 as one-half of the folk rock husband-wife duo Sonny & Cher after their song "I Got You Babe" peaked at number one on the US and UK charts. Together they sold 40 million records worldwide. Her solo career was established during the same time, with the top-ten singles "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" and "You Better Sit Down Kids". She became a television personality in the 1970s with her CBS shows; first The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, watched by over 30 million viewers weekly during its three-year run, and then the namesake Cher. She emerged as a fashion trendsetter by wearing elaborate outfits on her television shows.
While working on television, Cher released the US Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves", "Half-Breed", and "Dark Lady", becoming the female artist with the most number-one singles in United States history at the time. After her divorce from Sonny Bono in 1975, she released the disco album Take Me Home (1979) and earned $300,000 a week for her 1979–1982 concert residency in Las Vegas.
In 1982, Cher made her Broadway debut in the play Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean and starred in its film adaptation. She subsequently garnered critical acclaim for her performances in films such as Silkwood (1983), Mask (1985), The Witches of Eastwick (1987), and Moonstruck (1987), the last of which won her the Academy Award for Best Actress. She then revived her music career by recording the rock-inflected albums Cher (1987), Heart of Stone (1989), and Love Hurts (1991), all of which yielded successful singles such as "I Found Someone", "If I Could Turn Back Time", and "Love and Understanding". Cher contributed to the soundtrack for her next film, Mermaids (1990), which spawned the UK number-one single "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)". She made her directorial debut with a segment in the abortion-themed anthology If These Walls Could Talk (1996).
Cher reached a new commercial peak in 1998 with the dance-pop album Believe, whose title track topped the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1999 and became the biggest-selling single of all time by a female artist in the UK. It features pioneering use of Auto-Tune to distort her vocals, known as the "Cher effect". Her 2002–2005 Living Proof: The Farewell Tour became one of the highest-grossing concert tours of all time, earning $250 million. In 2008, she signed a $60 million deal to headline the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas for three years. During the 2010s, she landed starring roles in the films Burlesque (2010) and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018) and released studio albums Closer to the Truth (2013) and Dancing Queen (2018), both of which debuted at number three on the Billboard 200.
Having sold 100 million records, Cher is one of the world's best-selling music artists. Her achievements include a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, an Academy Award, three Golden Globe Awards, the Billboard Icon Award, and awards from the Kennedy Center Honors and the Council of Fashion Designers of America. She is the only artist to date to have a number-one single on a Billboard chart in six consecutive decades, from the 1960s to the 2010s. Aside from music and acting, she is noted for her political views, social media presence, philanthropic endeavors, and social activism, including LGBT rights and HIV/AIDS prevention.
Cher Official Website: https://www.cherfanclub.com
YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/cher
Many Rivers to Cross
Cher Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I can't seem to find my way over
Wandering I am lost
As I travel along the white cliffs of dover.
Yes I've got many rivers to cross
And it's only my will that keeps me alive
'Cause I've been licked, washed up for years
And I merely survive because of my pride.
And this lonliness won't leave me alone
It's such a drag to be on your own
'cause my man left me and he didn't say why
So I guess I'll have to cry.
I've got many rivers to cross
But just where to begin', I'm playing for time
'cause there've been times I find myself
Thinking of committing, a dreadful crime.
And this lonliness won't leave me alone
It's such a drag to be on your own
My man left me and he didn't say why
So I guess I'll have to cry.
I've got many rivers to cross
But just where to begin', I'm playing for time
But I've been licked, and washed up for years
And I merely survive because of my pride
(Many rivers to) Oh cross
"Many Rivers to Cross" is a song by Jimmy Cliff, originally released in 1969, and it has since been covered by many artists including Cher. The song is a reflection of a person's struggles to overcome obstacles in life, using the metaphor of many rivers to cross and feeling lost and lonely. The song's opening lines talk about the many rivers to cross, but the singer is having difficulty finding her way over. The theme of the song suggests the many challenges people face in life that can often make them feel lost and disoriented, without a clear sense of direction.
The singer mentions the white cliffs of Dover, which is a symbolic reference to the famous cliffs of England. These cliffs represent a sense of strength and resilience, but they are also a reminder of the many challenges people face in order to overcome life's obstacles. The singer mentions that her will is what keeps her alive, which suggests that she is not just relying on physical strength but also inner determination and a strong sense of character.
The next section of the song deals with loneliness and the pain of being left by someone the singer loved. She is struggling with the aftermath of this breakup and finds it difficult to move on. This loneliness is a heavy burden and feels like a drag on her life, but she must continue moving forward in order to survive. The singer also mentions having many rivers to cross and not knowing where to begin, which suggests that she is overwhelmed by the challenges ahead and is afraid to take the first step.
Overall, "Many Rivers to Cross" is a powerful song about the challenges people face in life and the importance of perseverance, inner strength, and determination in overcoming these obstacles. The use of metaphor and poetic language adds to the emotional depth of the song, and the powerful vocals and soulful music make it a classic that continues to resonate with audiences today.
Line by Line Meaning
Many rivers to cross
Life is full of challenges and obstacles.
But I can't seem to find my way over
I am struggling to overcome these challenges.
Wandering I am lost
I feel lost and directionless.
As I travel along the white cliffs of dover.
As I journey through life's ups and downs.
Yes I've got many rivers to cross
Acknowledgement of the many obstacles faced in life.
And it's only my will that keeps me alive
My determination and perseverance keep me going.
'Cause I've been licked, washed up for years
I have been beaten down and defeated for a long time.
And I merely survive because of my pride.
My pride is the only thing keeping me from giving up.
And this lonliness won't leave me alone
My feelings of isolation and detachment persist.
It's such a drag to be on your own
It's burdensome to be alone.
'cause my man left me and he didn't say why
My partner abandoned me without explanation.
So I guess I'll have to cry.
I am left with no choice but to express my emotions.
But just where to begin', I'm playing for time
I am unsure of how to move forward.
'cause there've been times I find myself
I have been at a point in my life
Thinking of committing, a dreadful crime.
Where I have considered doing something terrible.
And this lonliness won't leave me alone
I am still grappling with my feelings of loneliness.
It's such a drag to be on your own
Being alone is a heavy burden.
My man left me and he didn't say why
Again, acknowledging that my partner left without explanation.
But just where to begin', I'm playing for time
I am still struggling to figure out how to move forward.
But I've been licked, and washed up for years
I feel defeated and broken.
And I merely survive because of my pride
I am determined to keep going despite my struggles.
(Many rivers to) Oh cross
I am faced with many challenges in life, but I must keep moving forward.
Contributed by Kaelyn G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Tom Kohlman
Cher never did disappoint. Such a unique voice. One of a kind ☮️✌️☮️✌️
sabine deleener
I love Cher so much, she is a great wonderful singer and a great wonderful person, love you Cher !
Dylan Lancaster
One of her absolute best.
Janie Baker
Without a bout 😂
John Scott
What a lovely performance! She has such an unmistakable and unique vocal style and she is just SO pretty 💘 Listening to Cher and watching her perform really help me through the difficult days. Her music soothes my soul! I simply adore the gal 🎼♥️
Mo McGill-Smith
Can’t get enough of Cher! She is a legend in her own right! This woman has made it clear that she is a force to be reckoned with! We love you Cher!
Gia Vazquez
The voice of an angel I love her❤❤💋🌹🎤🎶
Arzu
Шер ! Вы , Великолепны . Я, не устаю это писать ., не устаю слушать ! Понимаю ....как можно любить . Спасибо .
RIXRADvidz
I love that these performances are being posted
we can relive the moments we saw this the first time on
Cher
the columbia broadcasting system actually did something good
Nosferatu 85
The vastness of this woman's carreer and especially the countless songs she recorded and performed, is insane! What an incredible JOY that more and more is being unearthed lately, for us fans to enjoy! ❤❤❤