The Dave Brubeck Quartet was an American modern jazz group formed in San Fr… Read Full Bio ↴The Dave Brubeck Quartet was an American modern jazz group formed in San Francisco in 1951 by jazz pianist Dave Brubeck (1920-2012). In what became known as the band's classic line-up, the band featured Joe Morello (1928–2011) on drums, Eugene Wright (1923-2020) on bass, and Paul Desmond (1924-1977) on saxophone. The band remains best-known for their use of odd time signatures, and were a premier group in the cool jazz movement. They produced several standards, including Take Five and Blue Rondo à la Turk.

Throughout the years, and changing line-ups, the group maintained a strong fan-base among jazz fans of all ages.

River Stay 'Way From My Door
The Dave Brubeck Quartet Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You're just a lonely little river,
But I have heard somebody say
That someday you may
Squeeze my home away.

So roll along you lonely river
And find your way to the sea,
I don't bother you,

Don't you bother me!

You keep goin' your way,
I'll keep goin' my way,
River, stay 'way from my door!

I just got a cabin,
You don't need a cabin,
River, stay 'way from my door!

Don't come up any higher,
I'm so all alone.
Leave my bed and my fire,
That's all I'll ever own!

I ain't breakin' your heart,

Don't start breakin' my heart,
River, stay 'way from my door!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Dave Brubeck Quartet And Jimmy Rushing's song "River Stay 'Way From My Door" tell the story of the singer's plea to a nearby river to stay away from his home. The river is described as lonely, but potentially destructive, as it may one day "squeeze [his] home away." The singer, therefore, implores the river to roll along and find its way to the sea, leaving him and his home alone. He insists that he won't bother the river if the river doesn't bother him, and asks that the river "stay 'way from [his] door."

The singer emphasizes that he doesn't need much - just his lonely cabin, his bed, and his fire. He begs the river not to come up any higher, as he is all alone and doesn't want to lose what little he has. He also reminds the river that he isn't breaking its heart, and asks that the river not break his in return. Overall, the song seems to be a simple, yet heartfelt plea for peace and stability in the face of the uncontrollable forces of nature.

Line by Line Meaning

You're just a lonely little river,
You are nothing more than a small, desolate stream.

But I have heard somebody say
Rumors have reached me that one day you may flood and take over my house.

That someday you may
There is a possibility that one day you will become a threat to my home.

Squeeze my home away.
You have the potential to destroy my humble abode.

So roll along you lonely river
Go forth on your own path, river, for you are alone.

And find your way to the sea,
Travel until you have reached the sea and can no longer affect me.

I don't bother you,
I am not causing any harm to you, river.

Don't you bother me!
Therefore, I ask you to not trouble me either.

You keep goin' your way,
You should continue to travel down your own path, river.

I'll keep goin' my way,
And I will proceed with my own journey, for we have no need to interact.

River, stay 'way from my door!
River, I kindly ask that you do not come near and harm my home.

I just got a cabin,
I have recently obtained a small house.

You don't need a cabin,
You do not require a human dwelling, as you are a river.

River, stay 'way from my door!
Again, I ask that you do not come near my home, river.

Don't come up any higher,
Please do not rise any higher, as it may endanger my home.

I'm so all alone.
I live alone, with no one else to protect my home from a river flood.

Leave my bed and my fire,
Please do not disturb my bed or fire, for they are all I have in this world.

That's all I'll ever own!
These possessions are all that I have to my name and I cannot afford to lose them.

I ain't breakin' your heart,
I am not trying to hurt you, river.

Don't start breakin' my heart,
So I beg of you, please do not bring harm upon my home and possessions.

River, stay 'way from my door!
Once more, I ask of you to stay away from my door and leave me and my belongings be.

Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Harry Woods, Mort Dixon

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

@sparkescadman

11y↑1

I want to thank our friend Jonathan Schwartz for playing this today, bringing me a new favorite! One of the top ten songs I'd play to define jazz in the late 50's and early 60's.....