Attending music camps and studying the art of singing since childhood, (“I’d sing for whoever was willing to listen…at school, in clubs and bars…anywhere I could”), whilst getting wrapped up in old soul records, the only thing as big as Florence’s love of music was her voice. With a remarkably fresh but mature delivery Florence’s enormous voice swoops and soars through an impressive vocal range taking inspiration and style from legendary vocalists such as Aretha Franklin, Eva Cassidy and Martha Reeves.
On completing her A level exams Florence signed to Dramatico (Katie Melua, Marianne Faithfull, Carla Bruni, Gurrumul) and put those years of musical apprenticeship to good use recording, with Mike Batt, her debut album ‘A Fool In Love’. An impressive debut of authentic soul, raw grooves and rhythm & blues the album was described by Music Week as “a blend that could elevate her to the similar heady heights Melua enjoys. Classy stuff.” The cool, after-dark Motown feel of Florence Rawlings’ first single ‘Hard To Get’ serves as a perfect introduction to this charismatic singer and her debut album of gritty arrangements, soulful melodies and vibrant brass work complemented by gospel vocals and addictive rhythms that culminate in a blend of raw soul that has been off the airwaves for far too long.
As well as singing a collection of powerful original songs penned by Mike Batt himself - including the gorgeous and moving ‘Love Can Be A Battlefield’, the cool, after-dark Motown feel of ‘Hard To Get’ and the debut single - Florence has discovered gems from days gone by and transformed them with her own charismatic soul style.
No Gladys Knight fan would deny that Florence makes the song ‘Take Me In Your Arms And Love Me’ completely her own. Meanwhile Allen Toussaint’s long forgotten ‘Riverboat’ has been rescued from obscurity and reinvented with vigorous production, uplifting horns and sleek dark overtones that give the song a lavish, ominous edge. Florence even performs a version of Chuck Berry’s ‘You Can’t Catch Me’ - following in the potentially daunting footsteps of The Rolling Stones and John Lennon she manages to make the song her own just as convincingly as rock and roll’s elite.
Equally at home in the studio or in concert, the 20 year-old Londoner is a natural performer – as was evident when she took to the stage at this year’s Isle of Wight Festival and stunned the crowds when she performed her songs for the first time. Afterwards the festival’s promoter John Giddings declared “Florence Rawlings rocked the Big Top - a certain star of the future” and other festival promoters have been extraordinarily quick off the mark in booking the 20 year old South Londoner, before a note of music has even been released, for some key spots including the main stage at Guilfest and Tuborg Stage at O2 Wireless in Hyde Park.
Little Richard’s description of his own sound sums up Florence’s electrifying style perfectly, “Rock n’ rollin’, rhythm & blues soulin’”. Florence Rawlings is set to be a modern soul star. In the words of the song - “jump on the wagon and join the dance.”
Riverboat
Florence Rawlings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the fires just keep on burnin'
Big boat just keep on chuggin'
And we just keep on huggin'
Time dies tryin'to fly by
Got a grain of love in my eye
Oh let me fight the man
Tryin'to beat each other if we can
Riverboat just keeps on chuggin'
And we just keep on kissin' and huggin'
We got love
Rain just keep on pouring
Love just keep on growin'
Opportunity came knockin'
Big boat just keep on rockin'
Riverboat just keep on chuggin'
And we just keep on kissin' and huggin'
We got love
Instrumental
Big wheels just keep on turnin'
And the fires just keep on burnin'
Big boat just keep on rockin'
And we just keep on knockin'
Riverboat just keep on chuggin'
And we just keep on kissin' and huggin'
We got love
The song "Riverboat" by Florence Rawlings is a romantic number that celebrates the enduring love between two people. The opening lines of the song, "Big wheels just keep on turnin' and the fires just keep on burnin'," suggest the unstoppable nature of time and the passion between the couple. The riverboat is a metaphor for their relationship, as it "just keeps on chuggin'" like their love.
The singer acknowledges that time flies by, but they have a "grain of love" in their eye that keeps them going. The lyrics "let me fight the man, Tryin'to beat each other if we can" suggest that the couple is open to facing challenges and overcoming them together. There is a certain optimism in the lyrics, as the characters seem to be enjoying life to the fullest.
The instrumental break in the middle of the song is a nice touch, as it allows the listeners to soak in the emotions and gives the song a breather. The song ends on the same optimistic note of love and togetherness, with the lines "Riverboat just keeps on chuggin' and we just keep on kissin' and huggin'. We got love."
Overall, "Riverboat" is a beautiful love song with a catchy chorus, upbeat tune, and meaningful lyrics. It emphasizes the importance of love, togetherness, and optimism in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Big wheels just keep on turnin'
Despite the constant change and uncertainty of life, we keep marching forward and pushing through.
And the fires just keep on burnin'
Our passion and determination never fade away, no matter what challenges we face.
Big boat just keep on chuggin'
Life keeps moving forward, even when we feel stuck in one place. We have to keep pushing forward.
And we just keep on huggin'
No matter what happens, we stick together and support each other.
Time dies tryin'to fly by
Time seems to go by so quickly, we barely notice it passing by.
Got a grain of love in my eye
Love has a way of blinding us and making us see things in a different light.
Oh let me fight the man
We have to stand up against the challenges that come our way and fight for what we believe in.
Tryin'to beat each other if we can
Despite our differences and conflicts, we should try to find common ground and work together instead of fighting each other.
Rain just keep on pouring
Even when life seems to be raining down on us, we have to keep moving forward and stay strong.
Love just keep on growin'
If we nurture and care for our relationships, they will continue to grow and become stronger over time.
Opportunity came knockin'
Sometimes, unexpected opportunities present themselves to us and it's up to us to seize them.
Big boat just keep on rockin'
No matter what life throws our way, we keep moving forward and trying to find a way through.
Riverboat just keep on chuggin'
Life keeps moving forward and we have to keep pushing through, one step at a time.
And we just keep on kissin' and huggin'
Even when things get tough, we hold onto the people we love and support each other through it all.
We got love
Ultimately, love is what keeps us going and gives us the strength to keep pushing forward.
Writer(s): ALLEN TOUSSAINT
Contributed by Katherine H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@JulianB09
Amazing Florence!
@chrisprod2009
hello Florence thank for this video frienship christian ;-)