With 2 million albums sold (1 million of which were sold in Switzerland, which only has 7 million habitants), they managed to get multi-platinum awards in different parts of the world.
Influences include Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Whitesnake, Deep Purple and Aerosmith. Singer Steve Lee is especially fond of Whitesnake and has based his singing style on their lead singer David Coverdale.
Gotthard also performed "Immigrant Song" (originally by Led Zeppelin) live and it featured exclusively on a CD by Classic Rock (a long running monthly UK rock magazine). "Hush" was also performed live and can be found on Made In Switzerland album.
Another cover of a song they have recorded is "The Mighty Quinn", originally called Quinn The Eskimo, by Bob Dylan.
Singer Steve Lee was killed in a motorcycle accident on October 5th 2010. A truck struck him while he was stopped on the side of a desert road in Nevada (USA), putting on rain gear.
Current line-up:
Nic Maeder: Vocals
Leo Leoni: Lead Guitar
Freddy Scherer: Rhythm Guitar
Marc Lynn: Bass
Hena Habegger: Drums
Silver River
Gotthard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shiver, shake and quiver
Silver river
So evil and devine
Rolling out the numbers
Just like fallen lovers
Holy river
Silver river
Giving out shiver
Silver river
Can't you just be mine
One, two, three
Let the lovin' be free, let it slide
Four, five, six
Gin and vermouth and mix
Seven, eight, nine
Gonna take up to ten in a line
Don't let the river dry
Silver river
Shiver, shake and quiver
Silver river
So evil but I don't mind
A race without a number
A kiss and now I wonder
Silver river
I wish I could read your mind
One, two, three
Let the lovin' be free, let it slide
Four, five, six
Devil's shakin' the mix
Seven, eight, nine
Gonna take up to ten in a line
Don't the river go dry
Silver river
Shiver, shake and quiver
Holy river
So evil and devine
One two three
Let the lovin' be free, let it slide
Four five six
Gonna jump in the mix
Seven, eight, nine
Gonna take up to ten in a line
Seven, eight, nine
Gonna take up to ten in a lineSilver river
Shiver, shake and quiver
Silver river
So evil and devine
Rolling out the numbers
Just like fallen lovers
Holy river
Here's an extra dime
Silver river
Giving out shiver
Silver river
Can't you just be mine
One, two, three
Let the lovin' be free, let it slide
Four, five, six
Gin and vermouth and mix
Seven, eight, nine
Gonna take up to ten in a line
Don't let the river dry
Silver river
Shiver, shake and quiver
Silver river
So evil but I don't mind
A race without a number
A kiss and now I wonder
Silver river
I wish I could read your mind
One, two, three
Let the lovin' be free, let it slide
Four, five, six
Devil's shakin' the mix
Seven, eight, nine
Gonna take up to ten in a line
Don't the river go dry
Silver river
Shiver, shake and quiver
Holy river
So evil and devine
One two three
Let the lovin' be free, let it slide
Four five six
Gonna jump in the mix
Seven, eight, nine
Gonna take up to ten in a line
Seven, eight, nine
Gonna take up to ten in a line
The lyrics to "Silver River" by the Swiss hard rock band, Gotthard, evoke a sense of mystique and wonder. The song is an ode to a river that is both terrifying and alluring. The opening lines, "Silver river, shiver, shake and quiver, Silver river, so evil and divine," sets the tone for the rest of the song. The chorus repeats the same words, "Silver river, shiver, shake and quiver," emphasizing the river's power and seduction.
The verses talk about rolling out numbers like fallen lovers, and the river giving out shivers. The lyrics use the image of the river to describe both love and fear. The bridge includes a countdown, "One, two, three, let the lovin' be free, let it slide, Four, five, six, Devil's shakin' the mix, Seven, eight, nine, Gonna take up to ten in a line," representing an intensifying desire.
Overall, "Silver River" is about the fear and ecstasy of surrendering oneself to the unknown, whether it be a river, a lover, or life itself. It's a song about taking risks and embracing the unknown, trusting that the rewards will outweigh the risks.
Line by Line Meaning
Silver river
The singer is addressing the river, which is characterized as 'silver'.
Shiver, shake and quiver
The river is described through its movements.
So evil and devine
The river is described in a paradoxical way that conveys its mysterious and complex nature.
Rolling out the numbers
The river is described metaphorically as dealing out unforeseeable events that cannot be controlled.
Just like fallen lovers
The artist compares the flow of the river to the unpredictable movements of people in love.
Holy river
The singer addresses the river again, calling it 'holy' this time.
Here's an extra dime
The singer is making an offering or tribute to the river.
Giving out shivers
The river is described as having a physical effect on the artist.
Can't you just be mine
The artist expresses a desire to possess or control the river in some way.
One, two, three / Let the lovin' be free, let it slide
The artist counts off a series of numbers and urges the listener to let go and allow love to happen freely.
Four, five, six / Gin and vermouth and mix
The singer references the ingredients of a cocktail, perhaps as a metaphor for the unpredictable blend of experiences that life and the river bring.
Seven, eight, nine / Gonna take up to ten in a line
The artist is counting again, and perhaps suggesting that they will continue to follow a path or take a series of actions.
Don't let the river dry
The singer seems to be urging the listener to hold onto something vital and not let it disappear.
A race without a number / A kiss and now I wonder
The singer describes something as unquantifiable and mysterious, but potentially transformative.
Devil's shakin' the mix
The singer references the devil and implies that something unexpected or chaotic is happening.
Gonna jump in the mix
The artist is willing to take risks and get involved in potentially unpredictable situations.
Silver river / Shiver, shake and quiver
The chorus repeats, bringing the river's movements back into focus.
So evil but I don't mind
The singer acknowledges the river's negative aspects but seems willing to accept them.
I wish I could read your mind
The singer expresses a desire for insight or understanding.
Seven, eight, nine / Gonna take up to ten in a line
The chorus repeats again, suggesting a path or a plan.
One, two, three / Let the lovin' be free, let it slide
The song ends with the same message it began with: let go and let love happen.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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