The River
Robert Downey Jr. Vonda Shepard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They're cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on
But it don't snow here
It stays pretty green
Then I'm going to quit this crazy scene
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on
I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
I wish I had a river I could skate away on
I made my baby cry
She tried hard to help me
You know, she put me at ease
And she loved me so naughty
Made me weak in the knees
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on
I'm so hard to handle
I'm selfish and I'm sad
Now I've gone and lost the best baby
That I ever had
I wish I had a river I could skate away on
Oh, I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I made my baby say goodbye
It's coming on Christmas
They're cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
I wish I had a river I could skate away on
The River by Robert Downey Jr. and Vonda Shepard is a song about feeling trapped and wanting to escape. It's Christmas time, and everyone is getting into the holiday spirit, but the singer feels disconnected from it all. She wishes she had a river to skate away on, a way to leave her problems behind and start fresh. However, she can't escape the fact that she's lost the most important person in her life, and it's her fault. She's reflecting on her actions and how they led to the end of her relationship.
The first verse sets the scene: Christmas is approaching, and the singer is feeling out of place. She wishes she had a river to skate away on, but she doesn't live in a place where it snows. She's also planning to make a lot of money so she can quit her current situation. In the second verse, she reflects on her relationship with her former lover. She acknowledges that the person tried to help her, and their love made her feel weak. She admits that she's hard to handle, selfish, and sad. She lost the best person she ever had, and there's no way to escape the pain.
The chorus is the most poignant part of the song. The singer repeats that she wishes she had a river to skate away on, longing to leave her problems behind. She wishes the river was so long that it would teach her feet to fly. However, she's made a mistake, and her baby has left her. She's lost the love of her life, and there's no escaping that fact. The final verse brings the song full circle, repeating the first verse's imagery of Christmas trees and singing songs of joy and peace. The singer is still struggling, and she wishes she had a way out.
Overall, The River is a hauntingly beautiful song that speaks to the universal human desire to escape our problems. It reminds us that even during the happiest time of the year, some people are struggling and need understanding and compassion.
Line by Line Meaning
It's coming on Christmas
The Christmas holiday is approaching soon.
They're cutting down trees
People are cutting down trees to use as Christmas trees.
They're putting up reindeer
Decorations of reindeer are being put up for the holiday season.
And singing songs of joy and peace
People are singing songs that reflect happiness and well-being.
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on
The artist desires to escape from their current life and problems by finding solace in a river.
But it don't snow here
The singer does not live in a place where it snows during the winter season.
It stays pretty green
Instead of snow, the environment around the singer stays relatively green all year round.
I'm going to make a lot of money
The artist plans to make a significant amount of money for themselves.
Then I'm going to quit this crazy scene
The artist desires to leave their current life behind for something better.
I wish I had a river so long
The artist desires to be in a place far away from their current location.
I would teach my feet to fly
The singer desires to have the freedom and movement of flight.
I made my baby cry
The artist caused their significant other emotional pain and upset.
She tried hard to help me
The singer's significant other worked to aid them in their problems.
You know, she put me at ease
The singer's significant other helped to calm their worries and fears.
And she loved me so naughty
The singer's significant other loved them even at their worst moments.
Made me weak in the knees
The artist's significant other emotionally affected and overwhelmed them.
I'm so hard to handle
The artist is difficult to deal with or manage due to their personality or behavior.
I'm selfish and I'm sad
The singer admits to being focused only on their own needs and desires and feeling unhappy.
Now I've gone and lost the best baby
The singer has lost the person they considered to be the best thing that ever happened to them.
That I ever had
The artist emphasizes how much they valued and cherished their significant other.
I made my baby say goodbye
The artist caused their significant other to end their relationship and leave them.
It's coming on Christmas
The Christmas holiday is approaching soon.
They're cutting down trees
People are cutting down trees to use as Christmas trees.
They're putting up reindeer
Decorations of reindeer are being put up for the holiday season.
And singing songs of joy and peace
People are singing songs that reflect happiness and well-being.
I wish I had a river I could skate away on
The singer repeats their desire to escape their current life and problems and find peace elsewhere.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Crazy Crow Music / Siquomb Music Publishing
Written by: JONI MITCHELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
L Joseph
It's coming on Christmas
They're cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
Oh I wish I had a river I could skate away on
But it don't snow here
It stays pretty green
I'm going to make a lot of money
Then I'm going to quit this crazy scene
Oh I wish I had a river I could skate away on
I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
I wish I had a river I could skate away on
I made my baby cry
He tried hard to help me
You know, he put me at ease
And he loved me so naughty
Made me weak in the knees
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on
I'm so hard to handle
I'm selfish and I'm sad
Now I've gone and lost the best baby
That I ever had
I wish I had a river I could skate away on
Oh, I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I made my baby say goodbye
It's coming on Christmas
They're cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
I wish I had a river I could skate away on
Kim Glasgow
I really love this version of "River." I'd never heard Robert Downey Jr. sing before and was surprised at how great he sounded.
Rain Stormz
+Kim Glasgow Me toooo! :D
tanjina badhon
same happened with me
Lucarius1
I already loved the song before I've seen him performing it on Ally McBeal. But when I saw him sing it in that one episode I had tears in my eyes. So touching, sad voice, and the whole scene made this song even more intense. It was a great performance in every way: singing and acting.
Gregory Gorton
This song was written by Joni Mitchell. There is also a great cover by James Taylor.But I must say that this version by Robert Downey Jr. is fantastic. More emotion here than in some of his movies.
coolnegative
Simply amazing! The cello is solo haunting! What an amazing voice!
Leo Fewtrell
brilliant
Lynn Richard
oh my! What a beautiful rendition! I didn't know Robert Downey Jr could sing! Talented in singing as in acting!
drc08rules
First time I heard RD jr sing when I use to watch All McBeal. Now I play it every Christmas. Miss that show so far ahead of its' time back then
Anthony Walsh
When i saw this episode -this song and RDJ gave me chills on haunting it is--one of my very favorite Holiday songs.