Brubeck's style ranged from refined to bombastic, reflecting his mother's attempts at classical training and his improvisational skills. Much of his music employed unusual time signatures, a fact jokingly referred to by his greatest hits album 'Time Signatures: A Career Retrospective'. Upon his death, a number of commentators noted his crossover appeal to mainstream pop audiences, something putting him in the company of other jazz legends such as Louis Armstrong and Herbie Hancock among others.
River Stay 'way from My Door
Dave Brubeck Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I have heard somebody say
That someday you may
Squeeze my home away.
So roll along you lonely river
And find your way to the sea,
I don't bother you,
You keep goin' your way,
I'll keep goin' my way,
River, stay 'way from my door!
I just got a cabin,
You don't need a cabin,
River, stay 'way from my door!
Don't come up any higher,
I'm so all alone.
Leave my bed and my fire,
That's all I'll ever own!
I ain't breakin' your heart,
Don't start breakin' my heart,
River, stay 'way from my door!
The song "River, Stay 'Way From My Door" by the Dave Brubeck Quartet and Jimmy Rushing is about a man who is trying to shoo away a river from his cabin. He calls the river a "lonely little river" and admits that it may seem harmless and insignificant, but he has heard that it may one day take away his home. As such, he tells the river to keep flowing towards the sea and he will keep living his life. He doesn't want to bother the river and doesn't want it to bother him either.
The man then emphasizes that he has just gotten a cabin and doesn't need anything else. He asks the river to stay away from his door and not to come up any higher. He is alone and the only possessions he has are his bed and fire, which he asks the river to leave alone. Finally, he pleads with the river to stay away from him and not to break his heart, just as he is not breaking the river's heart. Overall, the song is a plea for solitude and a simple life.
Line by Line Meaning
You're just a lonely little river,
You are simply a small river with no one to accompany you
But I have heard somebody say
Although someone has mentioned
That someday you may
There may come a time
Squeeze my home away.
When you may flood and destroy my house
So roll along you lonely river
Therefore, continue flowing, lonely river
And find your way to the sea,
And reach your destination, the ocean
I don't bother you,
I don't interfere with your journey
Don't you bother me!
So, don't you bother me!
You keep goin' your way,
You continue on your path
I'll keep goin' my way,
While I'll keep going mine
River, stay 'way from my door!
River, avoid coming near my door!
I just got a cabin,
I recently obtained a cabin
You don't need a cabin,
You have no need for a cabin
River, stay 'way from my door!
River, stay away from my door!
Don't come up any higher,
Do not escalate your level
I'm so all alone.
I am completely alone
Leave my bed and my fire,
Keep away from my bed and my fire
That's all I'll ever own!
These are the only things I possess
I ain't breakin' your heart,
I am not hurting your feelings
Don't start breakin' my heart,
Therefore, do not start hurting my feelings
River, stay 'way from my door!
River, avoid coming near my door
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Harry Woods, Mort Dixon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sparkescadman
I want to thank our friend Jonathan Schwartz for playing this today, bringing me a new favorite! One of the top ten songs I'd play to define jazz in the late 50's and early 60's.....
@TonySchopp
Morellos playing is completely outstanding. Pocket Joe, swingin' throughout.
@alain59200
love this track
@ronniealexander2648
I love it
@ronniealexander5715
to cool.😉👏👏💯😯💃💃
@100playonplaya
dope
@TonySchopp
Morelos