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versions, Joel Whitburn's "Top Adult (Contemporary) Songs" reported the song as a #3 or #1 easy listening hit, due to unpublished charts in Billboard.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
Neil Diamond Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm crossin' you in style some day
Old dream maker, you heartbreaker
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
My huckleberry friend
Moon River and me
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 huckleberry friend
Moon River and me
The song "Moon River" by Neil Diamond is an ode to the beauty and allure of the moonlit river. The lyrics express a yearning to embark on a journey with a companion, symbolized by the "heartbreaker" and "dream maker" Old Man River. The singer imagines himself and his "huckleberry friend" as two drifters who are ready to explore the world and who share a common goal of reaching the end of the rainbow.
The sentiment expressed in the song is one of hope, anticipation, and a desire for adventure. "Moon River" celebrates the bond between two individuals who share a sense of wanderlust and who refuse to be held back by societal norms. The imagery of the river and the rainbow evoke a sense of magic and beauty, reminding the listener of the majesty of nature and the possibilities that lie ahead.
Overall, "Moon River" is a timeless classic that captures the essence of exploration and the joy of companionship. Its lyrics and melody transport the listener into a dreamlike world that is full of wonder and possibility.
Line by Line Meaning
Moon river wider than a mile
The river symbolizes life's journey ahead; it is vast and unpredictable.
I'm crossin' you in style some day
The singer aspires to face the challenges in life with poise and elegance.
Old dream maker, you heartbreaker
The river is a metaphorical dream maker and heartbreaker, bringing joy and sorrow in life.
Wherever you're goin', I'm goin' your way
The artist is willing to follow the path of life that lies ahead, irrespective of its ups and downs.
Two drifters, off to see the world
The artist and his huckleberry friend are two adventurers who are eager to explore the world.
There's such a lot of world to see
The world has vast and varied experiences waiting to be explored by the singer and his friend.
We're after the same rainbow's end
The singer and his friend share a common goal, that is, to discover the elusive and magical treasures of life.
Waitin' 'round the bend
The treasures of life are just around the corner, waiting to be discovered by the artist and his friend.
My huckleberry friend
The friend of the artist is his trusted companion in life, with whom he shares his dreams and aspirations.
Moon River and me
The river that symbolizes the journey of life connects the artist and his friend, as they travel together to discover life's treasures.
Lyrics © Tratore
Written by: Johnny Mercer, Henry Mancini
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind