Cash released her first single in 1979, a duet with Bobby Bare called "We Don't Need No Memories Hangin' 'Round". Two years later, she had her first country No. 1 (and the biggest commercial hit of her career), "Seven Year Ache". Although Cash was a prominent country star throughout the '80s, alongside fellow decade-defining artists Emmylou Harris, Juice Newton, and Dolly Parton, her music was anything but traditional: She topped the charts with songs written not only by herself, but by her father ("Tennessee Flat Top Box"), John Hiatt ("The Way We Make a Broken Heart"), Tom Petty ("Never Be You") and the Beatles ("I Don't Want to Spoil the Party"), "I Don't Know Why You Don't Want Me", which won her a Grammy in 1985, and "It's Such a Small World", a 1987 duet with Rodney Crowell on his album Diamonds & Dirt, provided further hits. A sampling of these songs and more are included on the compilation Hits 1979-1989. In 1979, she married Rodney Crowell, who was to produce most of her hit records. Their stormy marriage lasted until 1992; its break-up is chronicled in Cash's Interiors and in Crowell's album Life Is Messy. Cash later married John Leventhal, who produced her albums The Wheel, 10 Song Demo, Rules of Travel, and Black Cadillac.
To date, Cash has had more than twenty top 40 country singles, including eleven chart-toppers, but none since 1990, and she has left Nashville in both spirit and body to pursue her artistic vision. Although she had recorded all of her hits for Columbia Records' Nashville division, she released 10 Song Demo for the pop division of Capitol. Cash resurfaced in 2003 with Rules of Travel. The album features guest appearances by Sheryl Crow and Steve Earle, as well as a tune penned by Joe Henry and the Wallflowers' Jakob Dylan. Cash's latest album, entitled Black Cadillac, was released by Capitol Records in January 2006 to critical acclaim. Many of the songs were written by Cash and address the losses (within a 24-month span) of her step-mother, her father, her step-sister (Rosey Nix Adams) and then finally her mother on Cash's fiftieth birthday.
River
Rosanne Cash 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
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
Oh 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
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
Oh I wish I had a river
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 song "River" by Rosanne Cash is a beautiful and melancholic tribute to the holiday season, and the feelings of longing, nostalgia, and regret that often accompany it. The lyrics open with a description of the bustling and joyful preparations for Christmas, but quickly shift to a sense of disconnection and yearning. The singer longs for a river to skate away on, a metaphor for the freedom and escape that she craves from her current circumstances.
As the song progresses, the singer reflects on her personal struggles and failures, particularly in love. She describes a lost relationship with a deep sense of loss and sadness, and a regret for not being able to hold onto the love that she had. However, despite the heartbreak, the singer remains hopeful, dreaming of a river that could carry her away from her troubles and towards a better future.
Overall, "River" is a hauntingly beautiful song that captures the complex emotions and contradictions of the holiday season, and the deeply personal struggles that accompany them. Rosanne Cash's voice is perfectly suited to the wistful and introspective tone of the lyrics, and the delicate instrumentation adds to the song's sense of sadness and longing.
Line by Line Meaning
It's coming on Christmas
The holiday season is approaching
They're cutting down trees
People are getting Christmas trees
They're putting up reindeer
Decorating with reindeer for the holidays
And singing songs of joy and peace
Celebrating the season with music and hope
Oh I wish I had a river
Expressing a longing for something different or more peaceful
I could skate away on
Escaping from the stresses of life
But it don't snow here
The current location doesn't have snow for skating
It stays pretty green
The location remains the same and lacks the winter snowscape
I'm going to make a lot of money
Making a plan to improve one's situation
Then I'm going to quit this crazy scene
Desiring to leave the current situation or lifestyle
I wish I had a river so long
Desiring a larger or more scenic river to escape on
I would teach my feet to fly
Expressing a desire for freedom or a new skill
I made my baby cry
Causing emotional pain to a loved one
He tried hard to help me
Acknowledging the efforts of a partner or friend
You know, he put me at ease
Feeling comforted and supported by a loved one
And he loved me so naughty
Sharing a playful or intimate relationship with a partner
Made me weak in the knees
Experiencing physical or emotional attraction to a partner
I'm so hard to handle
Recognizing one's own difficult personality traits
I'm selfish and I'm sad
Struggling with personal issues and emotions
Now I've gone and lost the best baby
Regretting actions that have caused the loss of a loved one
That I ever had
Expressing the significance of the lost relationship
I made my baby say goodbye
Causing the end of a romantic relationship
I wish I had a river
Repeating the desire for a peaceful escape
I could skate away on
Continuing to long for a way to escape stress and heartbreak
Lyrics ยฉ DistroKid, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Integrity Music, O/B/O CAPASSO, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Joni Mitchell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@RodStewartFan
I've been a rabid van of MS Cash for 40 years. She is the most overlooked treasure in the music business.... Period! This album traces my family's life in the Delta, and I GOT to see her perform the entire album in the same order as the album in Lafayette Louisiana, followed by her hits. Best concert I've ever had the honor to attend, and I saw Bob Dylan in the same theater a few years later... Roseanne is still the greatest show. Love this lady.
@rosannecash1701
Hi there๐น๐น๐น๐น๐น๐น
Thanks for your love and support that has brought me this far, it has been a hard time for me going through this but your love and support keeps me going and standing strong in this difficult times. I do read your heartwarming comments and I truly appreciate all youโve done for me throughout the years.
Itโs a season of love๐โค๏ธโค๏ธ for me and so I decided to put a smile on the faces of my fans by going through my YouTube channel and checking out on my fans, so I can get to communicate with my fans better through discussion of depth and humor listening to o and criticism of my career.๐๐๐๐๐๐
@nealliske7700
Write our wrongsโฆthanks for sharing you with us all!
@pete7825
Such a truly great album.
@Marcello1b
That is a country I really like. I am francophone, classical formation with a good respect in what is well done, as it is with this beautiful voice of Rosanne Cash. I like this colour tone. So... Keep up!!! That is really good.... Good team and everything. Have a good journey with this!!
@rosannecash1701
Hi there๐น๐น๐น๐น๐น๐น
Thanks for your love and support that has brought me this far, it has been a hard time for me going through this but your love and support keeps me going and standing strong in this difficult times. I do read your heartwarming comments and I truly appreciate all youโve done for me throughout the years.
Itโs a season of love๐โค๏ธโค๏ธ for me and so I decided to put a smile on the faces of my fans by going through my YouTube channel and checking out on my fans, so I can get to communicate with my fans better through discussion of depth and humor listening to o and criticism of my career.๐๐๐๐๐๐๐โค๏ธโค๏ธโค๏ธโค๏ธ..
@flautalee3090
Awesome! Keep recording and performing, Rosanne!
@rosannecash1701
Hi there๐น๐น๐น๐น๐น๐น
Thanks for your love and support that has brought me this far, it has been a hard time for me going through this but your love and support keeps me going and standing strong in this difficult times. I do read your heartwarming comments and I truly appreciate all youโve done for me throughout the years.
Itโs a season of love๐โค๏ธโค๏ธ for me and so I decided to put a smile on the faces of my fans by going through my YouTube channel and checking out on my fans, so I can get to communicate with my fans better through discussion of depth and humor listening to o and criticism of my career.๐๐๐๐๐๐
@garychristensen7895
Rarely is there an "album" where all the songs are great. This album is flat out awesome! Thanks for sharing your God given gift!
@rosannecash1701
Hi there๐น๐น๐น๐น๐น๐น
Thanks for your love and support that has brought me this far, it has been a hard time for me going through this but your love and support keeps me going and standing strong in this difficult times. I do read your heartwarming comments and I truly appreciate all youโve done for me throughout the years.
Itโs a season of love๐โค๏ธโค๏ธ for me and so I decided to put a smile on the faces of my fans by going through my YouTube channel and checking out on my fans, so I can get to communicate with my fans better through discussion of depth and humor listening to o and criticism of my career.๐๐๐๐๐๐๐โค๏ธโค๏ธโค๏ธโค๏ธ