Clay Walker (born August 19, 1969) was born and raised on a farm in Beaumont, TX, the hometown of George Jones. Walker fell in love with country music at an early age, when his father gave him a guitar when he was only nine years old. After he graduated from high school, Walker pursued a musical career full-time, playing concerts across the South, the Midwest, and Canada. For over three years, he toured and went to school, taking courses about the music business. During this time, he acted as his own manager. Eventually, he became the house singer at the Neon Armadillo bar in Beaumont. While performing at the club, producer James Stroud heard Walker and offered to work with the singer. Stroud helped Walker secure a contract with Giant Records, and the pair began working on the vocalist's debut album.
"What's It to You" became a number one hit upon its release in August of 1993, with "Live Until I Die" following it into the pole position later that same year. Both singles were featured on his debut album, Clay Walker, which was released in the fall of 1993. "Where Do I Fit in the Picture," the third single from the album, became a number 11 hit in early 1994. "White Palace" was a flop, failing to crack the Top 40, but "Dreaming With My Eyes Open" became his third number one hit in the summer of 1994, helping make his debut record a platinum album. If I Could Make a Living was not quite as successful as his debut, yet it still yielded the number one title track. Hypnotize the Moon, Walker's third album, appeared in the fall of 1995, preceded by the number two single "Who Needs You Baby." He followed with Self Portrait in 1996 and Rumor Has It in 1997. A Greatest Hits collection appeared in 1998 and a new album, Live, Laugh, Love, was released in 1999. Say No More followed two years later.
Down By The Riverside
Clay Walker Lyrics
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The wind was blowing through your hair
The moon was shing on your face
You looked like a picture sittin' there
And time stood still there in that place
The water was singin', out hearts were beatin' fast
Two high school lovers thinkin' it would always last
We gave into passion for the very first time
We fumbled with love 'til we got it right
And we found heaven down by the riverside
Now you're nothin' but a ghost
That still haunts my memory
And you're always waitin' there
When I go walkin' through my dreams
There's no happy ending but I know our love will last
'Cause when I close my eyes you always take me back
Down by the riverside on a warm summer night
We gave into passion for the very first time
We fumbled with love 'til we got it right
And we found heaven down by the riverside
On a warm summer night
We gave into passion for the very first time
We fumbled with love 'til we got it right
And we found heaven down by the riverside
Clay Walker's "Down By The Riverside" is a ballad about a love, which started when two high school sweethearts gave into passion for the very first time. The song is a nostalgic tribute to a love that was once beautiful and passionate, but is now just a memory that still haunts the singer's memories. In the opening verse, he describes his love sitting by the riverside with him, and time standing still as they shared a moment. The singer's description of the environment around them brings imagery that serves the song well as we can create pictures of the setting in our minds. The line "The water was singin', our hearts were beatin' fast" captures the moment and the excitement of young love.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the importance of that one night down by the riverside. The memories built on that night will stay with the singer for a lifetime. Even though they couldn't hold onto that passion, it was still enough to create heaven for that one night. The second verse talks about the void that the singer's lover left in his life when she's no longer there. The line "you're nothin' but a ghost that still haunts my memory" brings home the truth that even when someone is no longer present physically, their memory can stick around for a lifetime. The song ends with the chorus, and we understand the significance of the memories built that time, and they will leave a lasting impact.
Line by Line Meaning
The wind was blowing through your hair
The wind was blowing through your hair, making it dance, and it was a sight to behold
The moon was shing on your face
The moon was shining on your face, casting a glow that made you look all the more beautiful
You looked like a picture sittin' there
You looked like a picture sitting there, so perfect and serene, like a living work of art
And time stood still there in that place
When we were together in that place, time seemed to stand still, and it was just us and our love
The water was singin', out hearts were beatin' fast
As we stood by the water, listening to the peaceful sounds of the river, our hearts were beating fast with excitement and passion
Two high school lovers thinkin' it would always last
As two high school lovers, we thought our love would last forever, and we were so sure of each other
Now you're nothin' but a ghost
Now that you're gone, you're nothing but a ghost, a memory of what we used to have
That still haunts my memory
But you still haunt my memory, a reminder of the love we shared and lost
And you're always waitin' there
In my dreams, you're always waiting there, a beacon of the love we used to have
When I go walkin' through my dreams
And when I walk through my dreams, I'm transported back to that time when our love felt so real and strong
There's no happy ending but I know our love will last
Although there was no happy ending for us, I know our love will last, living on in my memories and heart
'Cause when I close my eyes you always take me back
When I close my eyes, I'm taken back to that place by the riverside, where our love was pure and true
Down by the riverside on a warm summer night
On a warm summer night down by the riverside, our love was born and it felt like anything was possible
We gave into passion for the very first time
For the very first time, we gave in to the passion we felt for each other, and it was a moment we'd never forget
We fumbled with love 'til we got it right
We fumbled with love, trying to figure it out, until we finally got it right and felt like we were meant to be together
And we found heaven down by the riverside
In each other's arms, we found heaven down by the riverside, and nothing else mattered in that moment
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: KENT E. N BLAZY, CLAY WALKER, KIM N WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind