Ritenour was born January 11, 1952 in Los Angeles, California. He played hi… Read Full Bio ↴Ritenour was born January 11, 1952 in Los Angeles, California. He played his first session when he was 16 with the Mamas and the Papas. Nicknamed "Captain Fingers", he (along with Larry Carlton) was a sought-after session guitarist by the mid-1970s. He is noted for playing his red Gibson ES-335 and his Gibson L5 guitars. One of his most notable influences is the pioneering jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery. In 1976, he released his first solo album, First Course. This was followed up by his fusion work Captain Fingers in 1976. Since First Course he has released over 30 albums — the 30th being Rit's House in 2002. One of his most notable works is his pop album (featuring vocalist Eric Tagg) 1981 Rit, which contained chart hits "Is It You," and "Mr. Briefcase." In the 90s, he was one of the founding members of smooth jazz group Fourplay.

River Man
Lee Ritenour Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Betty came by on her way
Said she had a word to say
'Bout things today and the falling leaves Said she hadn't heard the news
Hadn't had the time to choose
A way to lose what she believes

Gonna see the riverman
Gonna tell him all I can

About the plan for my return If he tells me all he knows
'Bout the way his river flows
And all night shows in summertime

Betty said she prayed today
For the sky to blow away
Or maybe stay, she wasn't sure
For when she thought of summer end Calling for her mind again
She lost the pain, and stayed for more Gonna see the riverman
Gonna tell him all I can
About the ban on feeling free If he tells me all he knows

'Bout the way his river flows
I don't suppose there's one for me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Lee Ritenour's song "River Man" are imbued with a profound sense of longing and introspection. The narrative is driven by the conversation between the singer, presumably the singer, and Betty. Betty is described as someone who has had a lot on her mind and has come to convey her thoughts about the world. She speaks of the falling leaves and her inability to find a way to lose her beliefs. The singer tells her that he intends to see the "Riverman" and tell him all about his plan to return. He wants to know all that the Riverman has to tell him about the way his river flows and the shows that it puts up during summertime.

Betty shares her own thoughts on the passing of time and the end of summer. She prays for the sky to blow away or stay, but she is not sure which. She wants to forget the pain that comes with the end of summertime and stay for more. The singer then talks about the ban on feeling free and wonders if there's anything that the Riverman can tell him about the way his river flows that would help him feel more free.

The song is haunting and melancholic, with the lyrics delving deep into the universal human experience of longing, hope, and dreams. It reflects on the passage of time, the difficulty of holding on to belief systems, and the desire to be free.

Line by Line Meaning

Betty came by on her way
Betty visited me while passing through

Said she had a word to say
She had something to share

'Bout things today and the falling leaves
About current events and the changing seasons

Said she hadn't heard the news
She was not aware of the recent updates

Hadn't had the time to choose
She didn't have time to make decisions

A way to lose what she believes
How to discard her faith

Gonna see the riverman
Going to meet the person who knows the river

Gonna tell him all I can
Going to share everything

About the plan for my return
Planning to come back

If he tells me all he knows
If he reveals all his knowledge

'Bout the way his river flows
About how his river moves