Andersen belonged, in the early sixties, together with Phil Ochs and Bob Dylan, to the Greenwich Village folkscene in New York. His best-known songs from that time are “Violets of Dawn,” “Come to My Bedside” and “Thirsty Boots” (the latter was recorded by Judy Collins and several others). In 1966, he made his debut at the Newport Folk Festival and that same year he starred in the Andy Warhol movie Space. In 1970 he took part in the Festival Express tour across Canada with the Grateful Dead , Janis Joplin, The Band and others. In 1972 he issued his most successful (and sold) album Blue River. The tapes of his follow-up album Stages got lost, but were found back more than a decade later and issued in 1991 as Stages: The Lost Album. In 1975 he performed at the opening show of the Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue, at Gerde's Folk City in New York, and again in Niagara Falls. After several albums (country/rock/folk), he issued Ghosts Upon the Road a highly recognized album in 1988. In the early 1990s, Andersen teamed with Rick Danko (The Band) and Jonas Fjeld to form the trio Danko/Fjeld/Andersen and three albums were released, Danko/Fjeld/Andersen (1991), Ridin' on the Blinds (1994), and One More Shot (2001). It lasted nine years before his next solo album Memory Of The Future (1998) was issued. This "dreamy and introspective music" album was followed by You Can't Relive The Past (2000), which contains some blues songs and a selection of songs co-written with Townes van Zandt . A double album Beat Avenue followed in 2003, which contains a series rock dominated ballads and includes a 26-minute title track (a jazzy beat poem), which represents his experiences among San Francisco’s beat community of artists (see 'Beat Generation') on the day of president John Kennedy’s assassination. On his last two albums The Street Was Always There (2004) and Waves (2005), both produced by the multi-instrumentalist Robert Aaron, he presents (amongst own songs) new versions of classics and of his sixties contemporaries and friends David Blue, Bob Dylan, Tim Hardin, Peter La Farge, Fred Neil, Phil Ochs, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Paul Siebel, Patrick Sky, Tom Paxton, Richard Farina, John Sebastian, Happy Traum, Tom Rush and Lou Reed . His next album Blue Rain, released in 2007, was his first live album. It was recorded in Norway and contains a blend of blues, jazz and folk.
In 2009, Andersen contributed an essay entitled The Danger Zone to the Naked Lunch @ 50: Anniversary Essays, a book volume edited by Oliver Harris and Ian MacFadyen devoted to William Burroughs’ masterpiece the Naked Lunch, considered one of the landmark publications in the history of American literature.
In 2011, a second live album The Cologne Concert was released featuring Michele Gazich (Italy) on violin and Eric's wife Inge Andersen on backing vocals.
In 2012 the filmmaker Paul Lamont (Toward Castle Films) started the production of The Eric Andersen Story, a documentary film, which is expected to be ready for global distribution in 2014.
Andersen has completed the recording of his new album Dance of Love and Death. The album is mixed by Steve Addabbo (Suzanne Vega ), other musicians are Lenny Kaye (Patti Smith Group), Larry Campbell (musician) (Bob Dylan band; Phil Lesh and Friends, Levon Helm Band), Michele Gazich (Mary Gauthier , Mark Olson (musician), Michelle Shocked ) and Inge Andersen. The record is expected to be released early 2013.
Blue River
Eric Andersen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Old man go to the river
C A7 Dm F7
To drop his bale of woes
Bb G F Dm
He could go if he wanted to
Bb G7 F Dm G7
It's just a boat to row you know listen to me now
Blue River keep right on rollin
A7 Dm F7
All along the shore line
Bb C7 F C Dm
Keep us safe from the deep and the dark
Bb F Bb F
Cause we don't want to stray too far
Dm F G Bb
Spent the day with my old dog Mo
C A7 Dm F7
Down an old dirt road
Bb G F Dm
What he's thinking lord I don't know
Bb G F Dm
But for him bet the time must go so slow
G
Don't you know
F Bb F C
Blue River keep right on rollin
A7 Dm F7
All along the shore line
Bb C7 F C Dm
Keep us safe from the deep and the dark
Bb F Bb F
Cause we don't want to stray too far
Harmonica break
Dm F G Bb
Young Rob stands with his ax in his hand
C A7 Dm F7
Believin that the crops are in
Bb G F Dm
Fire wood stacked ten by ten
Bb G
For the wife the folks the kids
F Dm G7
All of the kin and a friend listen to me now
F Bb F C
Blue River keep right on rollin
A7 Dm F7
All along the shore line
Bb C7 F C Dm
Keep us safe from the deep and the dark
Bb F Bb F
Cause we don't want to stray too far
The song "Blue River" by Eric Andersen is a soothing and reflective piece with a simple, almost folk-like style. The song follows an old man making his way to the river to "drop his bale of woes," highlighting the importance of finding release from life's burdens. He could go if he wanted to, as Andersen sings, and the river provides the perfect escape. The chorus of the song becomes a sort of ritual of protection, an acknowledgement of the river's power over them, and a request to keep them safe from danger. The second verse features a man named Rob getting his crops in and preparing for the winter months, and the chorus repeats that they don't want to stray too far from the river's protection during these times of work and rest.
One interpretation of this song is a reflection on the passage of time and the cyclical nature of life. The old man symbolizes a life nearing its end, making his way to the river as a final gesture of release. Mo the dog, featured in the first verse, represents a life in its prime, living in the moment with no obligations. Rob, featured in the second verse, represents a life at a stage of preparing for the future, getting crops in and securing the necessities of life. The river remains constant, always there to provide protection and solace during any stage of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Old man go to the river
An elderly man goes to the river
To drop his bale of woes
To relieve himself of his sorrows
He could go if he wanted to
He has the choice to leave
It's just a boat to row you know, listen to me now
The boat is merely a means of transportation, don't overthink it
Blue River keep right on rollin
The river continues to flow
All along the shore line
The river runs alongside the shore
Keep us safe from the deep and the dark
Protect us from danger
Cause we don't want to stray too far
We don't want to wander too far from safety
Spent the day with my old dog Mo
Spent time with a companion named Mo
Down an old dirt road
Traveled on a rustic path
What he's thinking lord I don't know
I don't know what's on his mind
But for him bet the time must go so slow, Don't you know
Time must pass slowly for him, you should know that
Young Rob stands with his ax in his hand
A young man named Rob holds an axe
Believin that the crops are in
Believing that the harvest is complete
Firewood stacked ten by ten
Wood is arranged in piles of ten
For the wife the folks the kids, All of the kin and a friend, listen to me now
For family and friends, pay attention
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ROBBIE ROBERTSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sharondunstall709
Some songs and songwriter/performers still pass the test of time, and this is one of them. I received this album for a High School graduation gift from my best friend. I played this song over and over again, until I practically wore it out lol! Still LOVE his voice, still LOVE this song. Oh boy, this takes me back, it also put a big smile on my face. 😃
@okonspruce
Great song! Love Eric's lyrics & melodies.Wonderful to hear Joni's amazing voice in the background. Canadian fan since 1972
@DouglasF68
Can't believe it took me almost 55 years to hear this. Never a better time than NOW. Dip your foot in, and it will never be the same.
@montage-factory
The first song I heard 44 years ago. When you close your eyes, it flows like a magic lantern.
Both happy and sad. Nothing, like the river he talks about.
I admire his talent for writing songs like this at a young age.
I had tears on his cheeks before I knew it.
@AlanDeValle
One of my favorite songs of all time. And Joni Mitchell's voice is so sublime..... timeless.
@paulbattenbough1002
beautiful moving song from a completely under rated songwriter. genius...
@davidtrousdale120
Great song, great album. Brings back lots of good memories.
@gurusoft1
Eric wrote a timeless song. Once ~1967 I followed him in Greenwich Village as he went from tiny step-down coffee house to coffee house . At each place he did a great set! He was extraordinary composer and singer.
@jenniferhayt4421
I just watched a documentary on Eric and what an amazing story teller... Out of all his songs this is one of my favorites
@vazmo14850
i had a 6 hour chemo treatment today, my first in a long series. exhausted, i thought of this song tonight...