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.
Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye
Johnny Rivers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hold me each evening at your side.
Tell me you'll love me for a million years.
Then if it don't work out,
Then if it don't work out,
Then you can tell me goodbye.
Sweeten my coffee with a morning kiss.
Tell me you'll love me for a million years.
Then if it don't work out,
Then if it don't work out,
Then you can tell me goodbye.
If you must go, oh, no, I won't grieve,
If you wait a lifetime before you leave.
If you must go, mmmmm, I won't tell you no,
Just so that we can say we tried.
Tell me you'll love me for a million years.
Then if it don't work out.
Then if it don't work out.
Then you can tell me goodbye.
The lyrics of Johnny Rivers's "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye" are those of a love song, featuring a powerful vocal performance and soft background music that make them all the more captivating. This is a song about a man who wants his lover to promise to love him for a million years, but he acknowledges that things may not work out, in which case he can tell him goodbye.
The first verse of the song asks for the lover to kiss the singer each morning and hold him every night, promising to love him for a million years. The chorus then repeats the line "Then if it don't work out, then you can tell me goodbye," possibly implying that the singer doesn't want to be deceived or strung along by someone who isn't as committed to the relationship as he is.
The second verse talks about sweetening coffee with a morning kiss and the lover soothing the singer's dreams with their sighs. Similar to the first verse, it features a promise to love the singer for a million years, followed by the same chorus.
The bridge of the song talks about the possibility of the lover leaving, but assures them that the singer won't grieve, as long as they wait a lifetime before going. Finally, the bridge asserts that the singer won't stop the lover from leaving, as long as they can say that they tried.
Overall, "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye" is a love song that features a hopeful but cautious attitude, hoping for a long-lasting love but aware that sometimes things just don't work out.
Line by Line Meaning
Kiss me each morning for a million years.
Start each day by showing me your love and affection, and never stop for eternity.
Hold me each evening at your side.
Keep me close to you every night, and provide me safety and comfort.
Tell me you'll love me for a million years.
Promise me that you will never stop loving me, and that we will be together forever.
Then if it don't work out,
However, if our love fades or dies, if our relationship cannot survive the test of time,
Then if it don't work out,
If things don't go as planned,
Then you can tell me goodbye.
You're free to leave me, to part ways without guilt, and without regret.
Sweeten my coffee with a morning kiss.
Make my mornings happier and sweeter by starting my day with a passionate kiss.
Soften my dreams with your sighs.
Ease my worries and anxieties by filling my dreams with your loving, calming sighs.
If you must go, oh, no, I won't grieve,
If circumstances force us to break up, I promise not to mourn or regret it.
If you wait a lifetime before you leave.
Giving me one last chance to try and make things work before walking away.
If you must go, mmmmm, I won't tell you no,
If you feel like you must leave, I won't hold you back or try to convince you otherwise.
Just so that we can say we tried.
We'll leave our relationship knowing that we gave it our all and did our best.
Tell me you'll love me for a million years.
Repeating the promise that our love will last forever, that our bond is eternal.
Then if it don't work out.
The reminder that love doesn't always last, and that relationships can end.
Then if it don't work out.
If our love fades, if our bond is broken,
Then you can tell me goodbye.
You'll be free to leave me, to end our relationship, without feeling guilty or holding any regrets for giving up on us.
Writer(s): JOHN D. LOUDERMILK
Contributed by Ava N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Shirley Dunbar
Such a beautiful song just love it
Karen Monet
Absolutely one of Johnny Rivers Best.
WhiskeyriverAZ
Wow,.this is soo beautiful. I'd heard this by Neil McCoy,but Johnny's version is,as always,the best!
Brian McFadden
I'd never heard this before....it's really great. His voice is wonderful on this one, and it's one of my favorite songs. Thanks for posting!
Duff Gordon
Notice as he ages, he makes any subtle changes he just moves to a different genre, but always with the basic JR vibe. Yet at any time, even now he can get down with one nasty good blues number.
Ndskze
Great album!!
Allan Ribeiro
Estar canção me faz feliz, Presenteio a todos que conheci nesta Vida (train soul)
Kathy Hayward
The guy who can sing anything or anyone's song is cool to me
amsedelm
Sublime. I would have liked to hear him do this in 1967.
Ron
Johnny Rivers Genius