Red River Valley
Jo Stafford Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile
For they say you are taking the sunshine
That has brightened our path for a while
Come and sit by my side if you love me
Do not hasten to bid me adieu
But remember the Red River Valley
And the one that has loved you so true
Won't you think of the valley you're leaving
Oh how lonely, how sad it will be?
Oh think of the fond heart you're breaking
And the grief you are causing to me
As you go to your home by the ocean
May you never forget those sweet hours
That we spent in the Red River Valley
And the love we exchanged 'mid the flowers
The lyrics to Jo Stafford's rendition of Red River Valley convey a heartfelt sentiment of longing and farewell. The song speaks to the pain of separation from a loved one, who is leaving the titular Red River Valley for a new life by the ocean. The first stanza is sung from the perspective of the ones who will be left behind, expressing the sadness they feel over the loss of the sunshine that their loved one brought into their lives. The second stanza is a plea to the departing loved one to remember the valley and the ones who loved them truly.
The chorus adds a wistful vibe to the song, bringing up the idea of the valley being a symbol of lost love and missed opportunities. The line 'Won't you think of the valley you're leaving, oh how lonely, how sad it will be?' emphasizes the feeling of desolation that the ones left behind are experiencing. The final lines of the song speak to the fond memories of the time spent in the valley, how they were filled with love and the exchanging of flowers. In conclusion, Red River Valley is a melancholic ballad that evokes strong emotions related to love and loss, while also serving as a tribute to the beauty of the valley that's being left behind.
Line by Line Meaning
From this valley they say you are going
They say you're leaving this valley
We will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile
We'll miss seeing your lovely eyes and smile
For they say you are taking the sunshine
People say you take the sunshine with you
That has brightened our path for a while
The sunshine has made our journey brighter for some time
Come and sit by my side if you love me
If you love me, come sit by my side
Do not hasten to bid me adieu
Don't rush to say goodbye
But remember the Red River Valley
Remember the Red River Valley
And the one that has loved you so true
Remember the one who has loved you very truly
Won't you think of the valley you're leaving
Please think of the valley you're leaving behind
Oh how lonely, how sad it will be?
It will be very lonely and sad without you
Oh think of the fond heart you're breaking
Think of how much you're hurting my fond heart
And the grief you are causing to me
You're causing me so much grief
As you go to your home by the ocean
As you travel to your seaside home
May you never forget those sweet hours
Please never forget those sweet moments
That we spent in the Red River Valley
We spent them in the Red River Valley
And the love we exchanged 'mid the flowers
And the love we shared among the flowers
Contributed by Landon M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Steve Repa
This song was written by a woman in Manitoba, Canada whose husband went out to fight in the NW rebellion in Canada. The "Red River" is the famous river in Manitoba going down into the Dakotas. (Most think it's about Texas Red River Valley, but it's not. Still a great song!)
Full lyrics:
From this valley they say you are going,
We will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile,
For they say you are taking the sunshine
Which has brightened our pathways a while.
Chorus:
Come and sit by my side if you love me;
Do not hasten to bid me adieu,
But remember the Red River Valley,
And the girl that has loved you so true.
I've been thinking a long time, my darling,
Of the sweet words you never would say,
Now, alas, must my fond hopes all vanish?
For they say you are going away.
Won't you think of the valley you're leaving,
Oh, how lonely and sad it will be,
Just think of the fond heart you're breaking,
And the grief you are causing to me.
From this valley they say you are going,
When you go, may your darling go too?
Would you leave her behind unprotected,
When she loves no one other than you.
As you go to your home by the ocean,
May you never forget those sweet hours,
That we spent in the Red River Valley,
And the love we exchanged 'mid the flowers.
I have promised you, darling, that never
Will a word from my lips cause you pain,
And my life, it will be yours forever,
If you only will love me again.
They will bury me where you have wandered,
Near the hills where the daffodils grow,
When you're gone from the Red River valley,
For I can't live without you I know.
Graham Gibson
But remember the Red River Valley
And the girl that has loved you so true
From this valley they say you are going
We will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile
For they say you are taking the sunshine
That brightened our pathway awhile
Remember, remember
Come and sit by my side if you love me (remember)
Do not hasten to bid me adieu (remember)
But remember the Red River Valley
And the girl that has loved you so true (remember)
Remember,
The girl that has loved you so true
Remember, remember
Steve Repa
This song was written by a woman in Manitoba, Canada whose husband went out to fight in the NW rebellion in Canada. The "Red River" is the famous river in Manitoba going down into the Dakotas. (Most think it's about Texas Red River Valley, but it's not. Still a great song!)
Full lyrics:
From this valley they say you are going,
We will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile,
For they say you are taking the sunshine
Which has brightened our pathways a while.
Chorus:
Come and sit by my side if you love me;
Do not hasten to bid me adieu,
But remember the Red River Valley,
And the girl that has loved you so true.
I've been thinking a long time, my darling,
Of the sweet words you never would say,
Now, alas, must my fond hopes all vanish?
For they say you are going away.
Won't you think of the valley you're leaving,
Oh, how lonely and sad it will be,
Just think of the fond heart you're breaking,
And the grief you are causing to me.
From this valley they say you are going,
When you go, may your darling go too?
Would you leave her behind unprotected,
When she loves no one other than you.
As you go to your home by the ocean,
May you never forget those sweet hours,
That we spent in the Red River Valley,
And the love we exchanged 'mid the flowers.
I have promised you, darling, that never
Will a word from my lips cause you pain,
And my life, it will be yours forever,
If you only will love me again.
They will bury me where you have wandered,
Near the hills where the daffodils grow,
When you're gone from the Red River valley,
For I can't live without you I know.
t j
But remember the Red River Valley
And the girl that has loved you so true
From this valley they say you are going
We will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile
For they say you are taking the sunshine
That brightened our pathway awhile
Remember, remember
Come and sit by my side if you love me (remember)
Do not hasten to bid me adieu (remember)
But remember the Red River Valley
And the girl that has loved you so true (remember)
Remember,
The girl that has loved you so true
Remember, remember
Steve Repa
This song was written by a woman in Manitoba, Canada whose husband went out to fight in the NW rebellion in Canada. The "Red River" is the famous river in Manitoba going down into the Dakotas. (Most think it's about Texas Red River Valley, but it's not. Still a great song!)
Full lyrics:
From this valley they say you are going,
We will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile,
For they say you are taking the sunshine
Which has brightened our pathways a while.
Chorus:
Come and sit by my side if you love me;
Do not hasten to bid me adieu,
But remember the Red River Valley,
And the girl that has loved you so true.
I've been thinking a long time, my darling,
Of the sweet words you never would say,
Now, alas, must my fond hopes all vanish?
For they say you are going away.
Won't you think of the valley you're leaving,
Oh, how lonely and sad it will be,
Just think of the fond heart you're breaking,
And the grief you are causing to me.
From this valley they say you are going,
When you go, may your darling go too?
Would you leave her behind unprotected,
When she loves no one other than you.
As you go to your home by the ocean,
May you never forget those sweet hours,
That we spent in the Red River Valley,
And the love we exchanged 'mid the flowers.
I have promised you, darling, that never
Will a word from my lips cause you pain,
And my life, it will be yours forever,
If you only will love me again.
They will bury me where you have wandered,
Near the hills where the daffodils grow,
When you're gone from the Red River valley,
For I can't live without you I know.
Steve Repa
This song was written by a woman in Manitoba, Canada whose husband went out to fight in the NW rebellion in Canada. The "Red River" is the famous river in Manitoba going down into the Dakotas. (Most think it's about Texas Red River Valley, but it's not. Still a great song!)
Full lyrics:
From this valley they say you are going,
We will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile,
For they say you are taking the sunshine
Which has brightened our pathways a while.
Chorus:
Come and sit by my side if you love me;
Do not hasten to bid me adieu,
But remember the Red River Valley,
And the girl that has loved you so true.
I've been thinking a long time, my darling,
Of the sweet words you never would say,
Now, alas, must my fond hopes all vanish?
For they say you are going away.
Won't you think of the valley you're leaving,
Oh, how lonely and sad it will be,
Just think of the fond heart you're breaking,
And the grief you are causing to me.
From this valley they say you are going,
When you go, may your darling go too?
Would you leave her behind unprotected,
When she loves no one other than you.
As you go to your home by the ocean,
May you never forget those sweet hours,
That we spent in the Red River Valley,
And the love we exchanged 'mid the flowers.
I have promised you, darling, that never
Will a word from my lips cause you pain,
And my life, it will be yours forever,
If you only will love me again.
They will bury me where you have wandered,
Near the hills where the daffodils grow,
When you're gone from the Red River valley,
For I can't live without you I know.
Catherine Ann
This is the first song I can remember singing. My father taught it to me over early morning breakfasts...many many moons ago.
Reginald Purvis
My Dad's song for my Mum for 65 years, God bless them and take care of them.
sorryimaiden
Catherine i
Hope B.
Those harmonies behind her smooth sadness...it sticks to my heart like all the memories of loved ones and friends
Asha Biswas
Have'nt heard a better version of this beautiful ditty. I adore Jo's voice. Thank you for this upload ferrarial . It brings such joy in my life.
Trevor Knowles
A lovely memory of Dad and some tears after hearing and remembering him singing red river valley
ann viola
My Dear Dad played this on his harmonica and sang it often. I miss him so much. Dreamt of him last night a d this song was in my dream..which is what drove me to look it up...😒🤗
John Geddos
My Daddy too sang this to us with his guitar and harmonica 65 yrs ago before he died. Loving memories.
Bracken Alexander
Some of my earliest memories are of my sweet grandmother singing this in my ear. ❤️
Mary Beth
My grandma would sing this. I miss her.