He was versatile enough to do folk songs, blues, covers of old-time Rock n' roll songs, and some original material, all of them in his own unique style. Rivers's greatest success came in the mid and late 1960s with a string of hit songs (including "Seventh Son," "Poor Side of Town" and "Secret Agent Man") but he has continued to record and perform to the present.
In 1960, Rivers met fellow Louisianan, James Burton, the guitar player for Ricky Nelson. Burton later recommended one of Rivers's songs to Nelson, who went on to record it. In 1961, Rivers went to Los Angeles to meet Nelson, and ended up relocating there, working as a song writer and studio musician. In 1963, Rivers's big break came when he temporarily filled in for a jazz combo at Bill Gazzari's night club; the temporary gig became long-term due to positive customer response.
In 1964, Elmer Valentine then gave Rivers a one-year contract to open his new club, Whisky a Go Go, on Sunset Strip in West Hollywood. The Whisky opened three days before The Beatles released "I Want To Hold Your Hand" and the British Invasion knocked almost every American artist off the top of the charts. But Rivers was so popular, producer Lou Adler decided to issue Johnny Rivers Live At The Whiskey A Go Go. The live album reached #12 on the charts and the single "Memphis" (a Chuck Berry cover) reached #2. Rivers made the successful transition from nightclub entertainer to chart-busting pop singer and had created the Go Go sound, part of a scene which included Go-Go dancers.
Into 1965, Rivers continued to record mostly live, Go Go style records including "Maybellene" (another Berry cover), which he followed "Mountain of Love", "Midnight Special", "Seventh Son" (written by Willie Dixon) e "Where Have All The Flowers Gone" (with Pete Seeger's), all of which were hits.
Rivers wanted to try something different and adopted a more idiosyncratic approach as from 1966. Characterized by his smooth, soulful voice, he produced hit portrayals as "Poor Side Of Town", which would be his biggest hit ever and his only number one record. Into another hit was "Secret Agent Man", the theme from Secret Agent television series (written by P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri). He also started own record company, Soul City Records, where he won a Grammy Award as the producer of the 5th Dimension, which eventually recorded "Aquarius/Let The Sun Shine In" and "Wedding Bell Blues", two number one hits on Rivers' label. Johnny is also credited with giving songwriter Jimmy Webb a major break when they recorded Webb's song "Up, Up, and Away". James Hendricks, one of the artists of that signed with Soul City, wrote "Summer Rain", a song that Rivers recorded and turned a hit.
Johnny Rivers continued to record more hits, including "Baby I Need Your Lovin'" and "The Tracks of My Tears" (cover of The Miracles), both top 10 in 1967. In 1968, Rivers released what many fans consider his best album, Realization, a number five album on the LP charts. The album was evocative of the psychedelic influences of the time and marked a subtle change in his musical direction, with more thoughtful types of songs, included such ballads as "Going Back to Big Sur".
In the 1970s, Rivers continued to record more songs and albums which were a success with music critics, but did not sell as well as some of his earlier hits. One of these albums, "L.A. Reggae" in 1972, reached the LP charts as a result of the top 10 "Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu" (a cover of Huey Smith & the Clowns). Anothers hits that time were "Blue Suede Shoes" (a cover of Carl Perkins), in 1973, which would reach the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, and "Help Me Rhonda", in 1975 - a cover of The Beach Boys on which Brian Wilson helped with backup vocals. His last entry on the charts was "Swayin' to the Music (Slow Dancing)", a top ten hit in 1977.
1980's until nowadays
Rivers continued recording into the '80's, although his recording career wound down somewhat. In spite of his music hasn't reached the best seller charts for quite a while, Rivers is still touring, doing 50 to 60 shows a year, increasingly returning to the blues that inspired him initially.
In 1998], Rivers reactivated his Soul City imprint and released Last Train to Memphis, his first new studio album in 15 years.
In early 2000, Johnny recorded with Eric Clapton, Tom Petty, and Paul McCartney on a tribute album dedicated to Buddy Holly's backup band, "The Crickets".
In all, Rivers had 9 top ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and 17 in the top 40 from 1964 to 1977. In total, he has sold well over 25 million records.
Borrowed Time
Johnny Rivers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What's it gonna be, baby
This indecision will surely pull me down
You know I can't find the strength inside
To walk a straight line, baby
And stop all this fooling around
You tried so hard to put me on my feet again, baby
I guess I'm never gonna know when I've had enough, baby
And I got so much to lose
Chorus:
Oh I'm living on borrowed time
Watching the days go by
Dreaming you still believe
Getting myself higher
Living on borrowed time
Watching the days go by
And thinking of you
I'm only fooling myself
By believing you're coming back again, baby
Every time somebody calls, I think it's you
Ever since you made up your mind
I was nothing but a lost cause baby
There's nothing left for me to lose
In "Borrowed Time," Johnny Rivers sings about the struggle to make a decision and the consequences of not doing so. The singer is torn between two options and can't seem to find the strength to choose a path. The indecision is causing him to spiral downwards and he feels like he's living on borrowed time. The listener can understand that the singer is going through a tough time, possibly due to a breakup, where he was left feeling lost and unsupported.
The pre-chorus reveals the cause of the singer's pain. He had someone who tried to help him get back on his feet. However, the night was so long that he couldn't see through it, which means he couldn't see the light through the darkness. The chorus reemphasizes the idea that the singer is living on borrowed time while dreaming that his love still believes in him. He's attempting to uplift himself by getting high, but that's only temporary, and the time keeps going by. He ends the chorus by thinking of the person he loves.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got to make up my mind
I need to decide what I want for my future
What's it gonna be, baby
What choice should I make, my love?
This indecision will surely pull me down
My inability to make a choice will ultimately cause me harm
You know I can't find the strength inside
I lack the courage to make a decision
To walk a straight line, baby
To commit to a clear path forward, my love
And stop all this fooling around
And to stop engaging in meaningless distractions
You tried so hard to put me on my feet again, baby
My love, you did your best to help me before
The night was so long I just couldn't see it through
The darkness consumed me and I lost my way
I guess I'm never gonna know when I've had enough, baby
I fear I'll never recognize a limit, my love
And I got so much to lose
There's so much at stake for me
Oh I'm living on borrowed time
I'm aware that my time is limited
Watching the days go by
As I wait and hesitate
Dreaming you still believe
Hoping that you still have faith in me
Getting myself higher
Distracting myself with drugs or other vices
And thinking of you
All the while, my thoughts are consumed with you
I'm only fooling myself
I'm lying to myself
By believing you're coming back again, baby
Thinking that you'll return to me, my love
Every time somebody calls, I think it's you
I mistakenly believe every incoming call is from you
Ever since you made up your mind
Since you decided that it was over between us
I was nothing but a lost cause baby
I felt worthless and hopeless, my love
There's nothing left for me to lose
I have nothing else to sacrifice
Contributed by Eli N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Shirley Dunbar
This is the first time I’ve ever heard this song I love it thank you for posting
Helen Hess
Love, love,love it! Thanks
rob hudson
thanku for posting! had this album in 1980
tonio netho
...as me, when in Manaus
Ealdred Aruspex
Thank you for posting.
jonathan stewart
Bonnie, Yesterday was his birthday, Everybody does covers get over it. We should stop saying this ones better than the other.