River Deep Mountain High
Darlene Love Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

When I was a little girl
I had a rag doll
Only doll I've ever owned
Now I love you just the way
I loved that rag doll
But only now my love has grown

And it gets stronger, in every way
And it gets deeper, let me say
And it gets higher, day by day

And do I love you my oh my
Yeh river deep mountain high
If I lost you would I cry
Oh how I love you baby, baby, baby, baby

When you were a young boy
Did you have a puppy
That always followed you around
Well I'm gonna be as faithful as that puppy
No I'll never let you down

'Cause it grows stronger, like a river flows
And it gets bigger baby, and heaven knows
And it gets sweeter baby, as it grows

And do I love you my oh my
Yeh river deep, mountain high
If I lost you would I cry
Oh how I love you baby, baby, baby, baby

If I lost you would I cry
Oh how I love you baby, baby, baby, baby

I love you baby like a flower loves the spring
And I love you baby just like a robin loves to sing
And I love you baby like a school boy loves his pie
And I love you baby, river deep mountain high
Oh yeah you've gotta believe me
River deep, mountain high
Do I love you my oh my, oh baby
River deep, mountain high




If I lost you would I cry
Oh how I love you baby, baby, baby, baby

Overall Meaning

River Deep Mountain High, performed by Darlene Love, is an iconic love song that describes the growth of love between two people. The first verse describes the singer's love as a child, comparing it to the love she has now with her partner. Her love has grown, becoming stronger, deeper, and higher. The chorus emphasizes the depth of her love, saying that it is like a river and a mountain, and that losing the person would make her cry.


The second verse describes the love of the partner, comparing it to a faithful puppy. Their love is also growing stronger, bigger, and sweeter. The singer's love for the partner is compared to the love of a flower for the spring and a robin for singing. The final lines express the depth of the singer's love once again: "Oh yeah, you've gotta believe me / River deep, mountain high / Do I love you my oh my, oh baby / River deep, mountain high / If I lost you would I cry / Oh how I love you baby, baby, baby, baby."


Overall, the song emphasizes the depth, strength, and growth of love. It compares love to natural forces like rivers and mountains, emphasizing the permanence and power of true love.


Line by Line Meaning

When I was a little girl
I am recalling my childhood memories


I had a rag doll
My only toy at that time was a rag doll


Only doll I've ever owned
I never had any other dolls


Now I love you just the way
My love for you is similar to how I loved that rag doll


I loved that rag doll
I cared for that doll deeply


But only now my love has grown
My love for you has grown stronger over the years


And it gets stronger, in every way
My love for you is getting stronger in every possible way


And it gets deeper, let me say
My love for you is becoming deeper day by day


And it gets higher, day by day
My love for you is reaching new heights every day


And do I love you my oh my
I am expressing my intense love for you


Yeh river deep mountain high
The depth and intensity of my love is similar to a river and a mountain


If I lost you would I cry
Losing you would cause me immense pain and sorrow


When you were a young boy
I am asking about your childhood memories


Did you have a puppy
I am asking if you had a pet puppy


That always followed you around
I am referring to a loyal pet that followed you wherever you went


Well I'm gonna be as faithful as that puppy
I will be as loyal and faithful to you as a pet dog is to its owner


No I'll never let you down
I promise to never disappoint or fail you


And it grows stronger, like a river flows
My love is growing stronger like a river that keeps flowing


And it gets bigger baby, and heaven knows
My love for you is growing bigger with each passing day


And it gets sweeter baby, as it grows
My love for you is becoming more sweet and romantic as time passes


I love you baby like a flower loves the spring
The intensity of my love for you is like how a flower blooms in the spring season


And I love you baby just like a robin loves to sing
My love for you is like how a robin sings with happiness


And I love you baby like a school boy loves his pie
My love for you is similar to how a little school boy loves his favorite dessert


Oh yeah you've gotta believe me
I am earnestly telling you to believe in my love




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, Phil Spector

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@edfou5

Quite simply one of the most astonishing and exhilarating performances ever caught on videotape. 

If I could only take five clips with me to the next world this would be one of them... and I can't think of what the other four would be.

God bless Darlene Love... from a man who first fell for her watching her on Shindig when I was 12.

And highest praise to everyone on that stage. Has there EVER been a time when a string section and a rhythm section and vocalists soared together like that? I don't think so.

My God... the earth stopped turning on its axis for a few minutes that night. And to see that young blonde woman on strings go from serious concentration to a huge grin is a beautiful thing.

Absolutely transcendent. Wow. BLISSFUL!



All comments from YouTube:

@LWOPP

David Letterman deserves credit for reintroducing Darlene Love to her old fans and bringing her millions of new ones by having her on the show every Christmas for the last 20 years. She is just amazing. And props to Shaffer for recreating the Wall of Sound live. That takes some doing. Wow.

@joegargiulo7070

Paul Schafer booked the entertainment; Letterman trusted his judgment.

@grahamshepherd2306

Without doubt the most powerful version. Darlene IS a Wall of Sound. She doesn't need one!

@katemcshane

Every time I hear her, I'm blown away. There are people I just want to thank God for giving to the world, and she's at the top of my list. Thank you, Darlene Love!!!!

@jimmyfromnj8403

One of the greatest live TV performances ever. Of course Darlene, Paul and the Band. Such great backup singers including the amazing Pattie Darcy right behind Darlene, blond hair and black jacket. She is so vivacious and rocking, the blond violinist couldn't help feeling her vibe, monstrously good. Most of Dave's guests ended songs at about 2:45, they kept this going into another zone. Thanks for posting, on my Favorites forever.

@KerrieGrant

+James Nolan My thoughts exactly and why I had to make sure this performance was posted.

@patmullican9526

Jimmy somehow I lucked into finding this, on You Tube. Just fantastic! And then, there is the blonde singing back-up. Wow! Had no idea who she was. Finally tracked her down, only to learn she had passed away. Very sad.

@joannasteinman9173

Yes it is.... this was originally to be Darlene's song.... Tina was a last minute change by Spector....
I was so drawn to Pattie Darcy when this first aired - and again when they reran the show two weeks later ....
she was found unresponsive in her home a little over a month later ... it still haunts me to watch it today....
You NEVER know how much time you have - live it to the FULLEST!

@ClaytonBryantSings

Joanna Steinman yes I Miss Pattie she was an incredible soul loved singing with her and just her loving on me she was amazing

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@SomebodyGroovy2

This may be Darlene's best live performance in YouTube. She was definitely inspired by the orchestra and choir backing her up.

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