The band originates from Manchester, England, and includes former Oasis session pianist Mike Rowe, drummer Jeremy Stacey of The Lemon Trees and percussionist Lenny Castro. The band also varies guests on their debut album such as the Crouch End Festival Chorus and The Wired Strings.
Since his split from Oasis in August 2009, many speculated that Gallagher might record a solo album. In July 2011, he held a press conference to confirm that this was the case, after denying rumours made by his brother, Liam Gallagher, that he had already heard the tracks featured. Later in 2011, Noel released the project's self-titled debut album, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds. In 2015, High Flying Birds released their second album, Chasing Yesterday. Their third, Who Built the Moon?, followed in 2017. All three albums went to No. 1 in the UK Albums Chart. In 2023, the fourth album Council Skies was released and peaked at No. 2 in the UK.
The current band line up is :
Noel Gallagher – lead vocals, lead and rhythm guitar (2009–present)
Mike Rowe – keyboards (2009–present)
Russell Pritchard – bass, backing vocals (2009–present)
Chris Sharrock – drums (2016–present)[45]
Gem Archer – rhythm and lead guitar (2016–present)
Jessica Greenfield – backing vocals and additional keyboards (2017–present)
Charlotte Marionneau – tin whistle, scissors, spoken French, tambourine, backing vocals (2017–present)[46]
YSEE – backing vocals (2017–present)
Riverman
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's something in the way, she moves me to distraction
I traveled all this way to try and make amends
'Cause heavy in the air are the words that she left hanging
I tried to walk away but I only stand and stare
The rain that comes
Is gone
When the Riverman runs
Find me the girl who electrifies the storm
In a little while she'll be gone
(Maybe)
I waited in the rain
My feet turned wet from just standing
I shouted out my name
Behind a rainbow's end
But somewhere in the crowd
She heard me jingle janging
Like a memory that fades
She slipped away again
The rain that comes
All of the love that was left behind
Is gone
When the Riverman runs
Find me the girl who electrifies the storm
The rain that comes
All of the love that was left behind
Is gone
When the Riverman runs
Find me the girl who electrifies the storm
And in a little while she'll be gone
The Riverman run
The Riverman run
The Riverman run
The Riverman run
The song "Riverman" by Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds has a melancholic and introspective tone that reflects on the search for a lost love. The singer of the song appears to be dealing with a relationship that has ended, but he still holds a deep longing for his former partner. The opening line "There's something in the way, she moves me to distraction" portrays how the person still finds it impossible to move beyond his memories of the girl he lost.
The lyrics "I traveled all this way to try and make amends" suggests that the singer may have hurt or wronged his partner, and that he is trying to make up for his mistakes. The line "But somewhere in the crowd, she heard me jingle janging" expresses the desperation the singer feels in trying to reconnect with his lost love. The phrase "jingle janging" is Noel Gallagher's slang term for the noise of a tambourine, and it's used here to suggest the singer's attempt to use every method available just to reach her.
The song reflects the feeling of being lost and alone, searching for someone who may have already moved on. The "Riverman" in the song could represent a person or a metaphorical representation of the passing of time, moving on permanently. The repetition of the phrase "The Riverman run" is the chorus of the song, and it reflects the singer's realization that he cannot hold onto the past and must accept the passage of time.
Line by Line Meaning
There's something in the way, she moves me to distraction
The singer is completely overcome by the girl's movements and cannot focus on anything else.
I traveled all this way to try and make amends
The singer has come a long way to apologize for something, but it seems like it may be too late.
'Cause heavy in the air are the words that she left hanging
The atmosphere is tense because of lingering, unspoken words between the two.
I tried to walk away but I only stand and stare
The singer is unable to leave the situation, he can only look on helplessly.
The rain that comes
The rain is symbolic of emotional pain
All of the love that was left behind
All of the love from the past has been left behind and the relationship is now over.
Is gone
The love that they shared is now lost and cannot be regained.
When the Riverman runs
The Riverman is symbolic of time, always moving forward.
Find me the girl who electrifies the storm
The singer is asking for the girl who can completely change everything, even in the midst of a storm.
In a little while she'll be gone
The singer knows that the girl will be leaving soon, adding to the sense of hopelessness.
My feet turned wet from just standing
The singer has been standing in the rain for a while.
I shouted out my name
The singer is trying to make himself known, trying to make a connection with the girl.
Behind a rainbow's end
The girl is out of reach, even beyond the end of the rainbow.
But somewhere in the crowd
The girl is somewhere, but the singer cannot find her.
She heard me jingle janging
The girl heard the singer, but did not respond.
Like a memory that fades
The connection between the singer and the girl is slipping away, like a memory fading over time.
She slipped away again
The girl is gone once more, leaving the singer alone in the rain.
The Riverman run
The Riverman is always moving forward, and the singer cannot stop time or change what has already happened.
The Riverman run
The Riverman is a reminder that things will continue to change, even if the singer cannot keep up.
The Riverman run
The Riverman keeps moving, even when the singer cannot.
The Riverman run
The Riverman is a reminder that the past cannot be changed, and the future is always approaching.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Noel Gallagher
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@yuhzobreyer188
"Riverman"
There's something in the way she moves me to distraction.
I've travelled all this way to try and make amends. 'Cause heavy in the air are the words that she left hanging.
I've tried to walk away but I only stand and stare.[Chorus:]
In the rain that comes..
All of the love that was left behind is gone.
When the Riverman runs..
Find me the girl who electrified the storm.
'Cause in a little while.. she'll be gone. I waited in the rain, my feet too wet to stand in.
I shouted out your name behind the rainbows end. But somewhere in the crowd she heard me jingle-jangling.
And like a memory that fades, she slipped away again.[Chorus]
@FutureAbe
One of those songs that you just wish would go on forever
@richardparsons
It does though😴
@neilsmith5549
The rift
@chrisbacos
I only wish here in the States he would get the recognition he deserves.
@richardcox6985
I wish here in the UK he got more recognition, but oh well...
@chrisbrehl8963
chrisbacos Ofc he cant, Americans listen to shitty commercial music to shake their fat ass
@Bucboy1001
Richard Cox His album went #1 in the UK, meanwhile here in America....well, it reached 35. It's quite shocking that an artist as accomplished as NG is not even mentioned in America.
@chrisbacos
It's because here in America the powers that be want the masses to listen to songbirds with little talent like Beyonce and Kate Perry or antiquated rock bands like Black Sabbath and the Eagles that have overstayed their welcome.
@leonzambotti5628
chrisbacos I wish that he had it from all of the world!!
@CrosswindLandings
This is a fantastic song. One of Noel's best, solo or otherwise.