One of her most widely known singles is "Passionate Kisses" (written by fellow singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams), a song with a rock flavor musically and lyrics listing simple desires such as "a comfortable bed", "food to fill me up", and "time to think". Another big hit was "Down at the Twist and Shout", which she performed in January 1997 at Super Bowl XXXI in New Orleans.
A number of Mary Chapin Carpenter's songs speak to women, urging them on through hard times or troubled relationships. In "He Thinks He'll Keep Her", co-composed by Carpenter and Don Schlitz, the singer makes the case for strength and self-respect. Another common theme in her music is that of taking life at your own pace, rather than rampant goal-driven materialism, such as "The Long Way Home" from her 2001 album Time*Sex*Love, which pokes fun at a man who "retire(s) at thirty to his big-ass house next to the putting green." The album has a relatively different feel musically, incorporating elaborate orchestra melodies, but with her characteristic lyrical depth.
Her album Between Here and Gone, was released in 2004.
Carpenter's 2007 album, The Calling, on Rounder Records' rock/pop imprint Zoë, features commentary about contemporary politics, a reaction to the impact of Hurricane Katrina on a track entitled "Houston," and an incendiary track entitled "On with the Song", dedicated to the Dixie Chicks, and addressing the visceral reaction to the trio. In less than three months after its release, The Calling sold more than 100,000 copies in the US.
Carpenter has won five Grammy Awards and is the only artist to have won four consecutive Grammy Awards for Best Female Country Vocal Performance, which she received from 1992 to 1995. On October 7, 2012, Carpenter was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Carpenter is a fifth cousin of the late singer and humanitarian Harry Chapin, along with his brothers Tom Chapin and Steve Chapin.
River
Mary Chapin Carpenter Lyrics
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River full and rushing when the clouds let loose again
River every season like a prayer
We're standing in the shallows making crosses in the air
Want to build the strongest bridge
Want to love you the best I can
Feel no fear upon the edge
River like a poem to the trees
River telling stories to the rushes and the leaves
River every season like a vow
We're standing in the shallows wondering who will save us now
Want to build the strongest bridge
Want to love you the best I can
Feel no fear upon the edge
Here's my heart, baby take my hand
River from the currents to the pools
River turning kinder turning suddenly too cruel
River every season like a dream
We're standing in the shallows wading in to wash us clean
Want to build the strongest bridge
Want to love you the best I can
Feel no fear upon the edge
Here's my heart, baby take my hand
Want to build the strongest bridge
Want to love you the best I can
Feel no fear upon the edge
Here's my heart, baby take my hand
Want to hold you close to me
Never fail you, never falter
Seeing all that love can see
Reflecting back on the water
The lyrics to Mary Chapin Carpenter's song "River" are full of beautiful imagery and metaphors about the natural world. The river is used as a symbol for love, both its beauty and its unpredictability. The song begins with a description of the river, full of stones when the rain is absent and rushing when the clouds let loose. This is followed by a beautiful simile comparing the river to a prayer that occurs every season. The line "We're standing in the shallows making crosses in the air" suggests that the singer and their loved one are at the edge of the river, perhaps seeking guidance or protection.
The chorus of the song expresses the singer's desire to make their love as strong as possible, to hold their loved one close, and to never fail them. This desire is juxtaposed against the image of the river, which is beautiful but also unpredictable and sometimes cruel. The second verse of the song continues the river metaphor, describing how the river tells stories to the trees and rushes and leaves, and how it is a vow every season. The final line of the verse, "We're standing in the shallows wondering who will save us now," suggests a feeling of vulnerability and uncertainty.
Line by Line Meaning
River full of stones when there's no rain
The river has rocks as long as it is not raining
River full and rushing when the clouds let loose again
When it rains, the river grows and speeds up
River every season like a prayer
The river is constant and calming, like a prayer
We're standing in the shallows making crosses in the air
While standing in the shallow part of the river, they're making crosses with their fingers in the air
Want to build the strongest bridge
I aim to build an unbreakable connection
Want to love you the best I can
I yearn to love you in the best way I can
Feel no fear upon the edge
I am not afraid to be vulnerable
Here's my heart, baby take my hand
I am giving you my heart, take my hand and we can go on this journey together
River like a poem to the trees
The river is like a poem that speaks to the trees
River telling stories to the rushes and the leaves
The river shares stories with the plants and leaves around it
River every season like a vow
The river is like a promise that's kept every season
We're standing in the shallows wondering who will save us now
They're standing in the shallow part and questioning who can save them from their troubles
River from the currents to the pools
The river flows from rapid currents to calm pools
River turning kinder turning suddenly too cruel
The river can change from being lenient to acting ruthless without any explanation
River every season like a dream
Each season, the river can feel like a dream or a fantasy
We're standing in the shallows wading in to wash us clean
They're standing in the shallow part of the river hoping to cleanse themselves
Want to hold you close to me
I want to keep you close to my heart
Never fail you, never falter
I will never disappoint or lose my strength in loving you
Seeing all that love can see
I'm seeing things through the lens of love
Reflecting back on the water
The water acts as a mirror, reflecting back his thoughts and feelings
Lyrics © DistroKid, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Integrity Music, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Joni Mitchell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind