It became the theme song for Andy Williams, who first recorded the song in 1961 and performed it at the Academy Awards ceremonies in 1962. He sang the first eight bars of the song at the beginning of his television show; he also named his production company and venue in Branson, Missouri after Moon River. Williams' version was vetoed by Cadence president Archie Bleyer, who believed it had little or no appeal to teenagers. Williams' famous version never charted, except as an LP track, which he recorded for Columbia in a hit album of 1962.
The success of the song was responsible for relaunching Mercer's career as a songwriter, which had stalled in the mid-1950s because rock and roll replaced jazz standards as the popular music of the time. An inlet near Savannah, Georgia, Johnny Mercer's hometown, was named Moon River in honor of him and this song. The popularity of the song is such that it has been used as a test sample in a study on people's memories of popular songs.
The original version
Mercer and Mancini wrote the song for Audrey Hepburn to fit her vocal range. Initially the lyrics started, "I'm Holly, like I want to be / like Holly on a tree back home...", however they were later changed to fit the theme to the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's.
Although an instrumental version is played over the film's opening titles, the lyrics are first heard in a scene where Paul 'Fred' Varjak (George Peppard) discovers Holly Golightly (Hepburn) singing them, accompanied by her guitar, on the fire-escape outside their apartments.
There was much behind-the-scenes consternation which erupted when a Paramount Pictures executive suggested deleting the song from the film immediately after a very successful San Francisco preview. Hepburn's reaction has been described by Mancini and others in degrees varying from her saying "over my dead body" to her using somewhat more colorful language to make the same point.
Hepburn's version was not included in the original score album to Breakfast at Tiffany's. Instead, an album version recorded by Mancini and his chorus was released as a single and became a #11 hit. In different versions, Joel Whitburn's "Top Adult (Contemporary) Songs" reported the song as a #3 or #1 easy listening hit, due to unpublished charts in Billboard. Only months after Hepburn's death in 1993, her version was released on an album entitled Music from the Films of Audrey Hepburn.
Other recordings
"Moon River" was released by South African singer Danny Williams, and reached #1 in the UK. Shortly thereafter, Andy Williams recorded the song and made it his theme song. It was a hit for Jerry Butler in 1961, reaching #11 in the Billboard charts. Other artists that have covered the song are The Afghan Whigs, Benny Anderssons Orkester, Paul Anka, Blake, Louis Armstrong, Vince Guaraldi, Beru Revue, Mary Black, Sarah Brightman, Liz Callaway, Perry Como, Ray Conniff, Bobby Darin, Ania Dąbrowska, Dr. John, Dump, Billy Eckstine, The Four Freshmen, Connie Francis, Bill Frisell (instrumental), Emi Fujita, Judy Garland, Karel Gott, Grant Green (instrumental), Patty Griffin, The Innocence Mission (although this version is sometimes incorrectly cited as being performed by Milla Jovovich), Bradley Joseph (instrumental), Kim Yoo-jin, James Last, Joey McIntyre, Johnny Mathis, Brad Mehldau, Jane Monheit, Morrissey, Patsy Ann Noble, Jim Reeves, John Barrowman, R.E.M., Mia Riddle, Andrea Ross, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Sarah Vaughan, Nan Vernon, Kid Koala, Westlife, Victoria Williams, The Divine Comedy, and Tata Young.
Mercer himself recorded the song in 1974 for his album (appropriately named) My Huckleberry Friend.
Moon River
Lesley Garrett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm crossing you in style some day.
Old dream maker, you heart breaker
wherever you're goin' I'm goin' your way
Two drifters, off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see
We're after the same rainbow's end
waitin' round the bend, my Huckle-berry friend
Wherever you're going' goin' your way
Two drifters, off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see
We're after the same rainbow's end
my Huckleberry friend, waitin' round the bend
Moon River and me
The song "Moon River" was composed by Henry Mancini, with lyrics by Johnny Mercer, and it was famously performed by Audrey Hepburn in the film "Breakfast at Tiffany's" in 1961. The song is a beautiful and poignant tribute to the river that winds its way through the city of Savannah, Georgia.
The lyrics evoke a sense of wanderlust and a longing to see the world, encapsulated in the image of "two drifters, off to see the world." The river itself becomes a symbol of the journey, as the singer crosses it "in style" with the dream of finding new adventures and experiences. The "Old dream maker" and "heart breaker" suggest a bittersweet awareness of the risks and rewards of pursuing such a journey.
The song is ultimately a celebration of friendship and shared experience, as the singer and their "Huckleberry friend" pursue their shared dream of seeing the world and finding the end of the rainbow. The closing line of "Moon River and Me" suggests a sense of unity and companionship, even in the face of unknown challenges and obstacles.
Line by Line Meaning
Moon River, wider than a mile
The river called 'Moon River' is wider than a mile.
I'm crossing you in style some day.
I will someday travel across this river in style.
Old dream maker, you heart breaker
The river is an old dream maker, but it also has the power to break hearts.
Wherever you're goin' I'm goin' your way
No matter where the river goes, I will follow its course.
Two drifters, off to see the world
The singer and the river are two aimless wanderers who have set out to explore the world.
There's such a lot of world to see
There is an enormous amount of the world to discover and explore.
We're after the same rainbow's end
Both the singer and the river are searching for the same elusive goal or dream.
waitin' round the bend, my Huckle-berry friend
The singer refers to the river as their loyal friend and companion who is always waiting around the corner or bend to continue the journey together.
Moon River and me.
The singer and the river have become inseparable companions on this journey through life.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Tratore, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Johnny Mercer, Henry Mancini
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sofia Gara
+Sophie Izzard I have a hard time understanding the first part, so I'll leave out the few words I didn't catch. You can try to replace them somehow, here's the part I understood:
Moon high up on in the summer sky
...watching you shining
Speak to his heart...
Tell him I'm lonely and hiding
Speak to his heart ...
Tell him I'm lonely and hiding
Moon high above him, shine in
Speak to him, tell him I love him
Moon high above him, shine in
Speak to him, tell him I love him
If a chance he dreams of me, Let the thought of me awake him
Moonlight forsake me not, stay with me, moonlight stay with me
I hope that helps :)
Ruan vd Merwe
Lesley has a beautiful crystal voice!
hamefurgid
@kenwilf2 I saw her in concert about 10 years ago in Glasgow with my mum and sister, just months after my father died. We joined a Q to have copies of CDs signed by her and when it was our turn, she noticed mum's teary eyes. She asked if mum was OK and when we told her about dad and the fact that he had been a fan, she stood up and hugged all 3 of us. I still have that CD which I treasure. A lovely singer and person as well. :)
ozzymandi
Lesley She is lovely. The Diva of Doncaster! Boy is she good, true class!
William Heywood
You're smashing ,Lesley!!
Sophie Rose
Does anyone have the lyrics for this particular version of the song? It would be really helpful if anyone knew what she was singing word for word and it's been difficult to find the actual 2001 show version lyrics online really need as I will be singing it for my singing teacher!
Sofia Gara
+Sophie Izzard I have a hard time understanding the first part, so I'll leave out the few words I didn't catch. You can try to replace them somehow, here's the part I understood:
Moon high up on in the summer sky
...watching you shining
Speak to his heart...
Tell him I'm lonely and hiding
Speak to his heart ...
Tell him I'm lonely and hiding
Moon high above him, shine in
Speak to him, tell him I love him
Moon high above him, shine in
Speak to him, tell him I love him
If a chance he dreams of me, Let the thought of me awake him
Moonlight forsake me not, stay with me, moonlight stay with me
I hope that helps :)
Sophie Rose
+Zsofia Gara hey thanks for your help Zsofia :) so far I have been singing:
Moon high above in the summer sky,
He too is watching you(r) shining,
Speak to his heart from up on high, Tell him I'm lonely and long (longing or long for him?) x2
Moon high above him
Shining, Speak to him, tell him that I love him x2
Second part is kinda confusing but I think more or less of what you've written sounds about right!
Sofia Gara
+Sophie Izzard the part you said "shining", I thought it was "shine in" as shine in through the window, but yours make so much more sense. I think together we got the whole lyrics :) she's missing the second verse tho
ma reb
Please, do anyone know the lyrics ?
bingcro
she is singingthem