The Kingston Trio was formed in 1957 in the Palo Alto, California area by original lineup of Dave Guard (1934–1991), Bob Shane (1934–2020), and Nick Reynolds (1933–2008), who were just out of college. Greatly influenced by The Weavers, the calypso sounds of Harry Belafonte, and other semi-popular folk artists such as the Gateway Singers and the Tarriers, they were discovered playing at a college club called the Cracked Pot by Frank Werber, a local publicist then working at the Hungry i. He became their manager, and secured them a one-shot deal with Capitol Records.
Their first hit was a catchy rendition of an old-time folk song, "Tom Dooley", which went gold in 1958. It was so popular that it entered popular culture as a catchphrase: Ella Fitzgerald, for example, parodies it during her recorded version of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer". It won them the first Grammy award for Best Country & Western Performance in 1959. The next year, they won the first Grammy Award for Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording category for the album The Kingston Trio at Large.
At one point in the early 1960s The Kingston Trio had four albums at the same time among the Top 10 selling albums, a record unmatched for nearly 40 years. In spite of this, they had a relatively small number of hit singles.
The group's music was simple and accessible, with much use of tight vocal harmony, signature riffs (often played on the banjo), and repetitive choruses. Capitol producer Voyle Gilmore[1] enhanced their vocal sound to great effect with reverb and the relatively new process of doubletracking, in which the performers sang along with their own pre-recorded part to produce a stronger sound than with a single voice, in part due to a natural time gap of a fraction of a second between the original recording and the overdubbed part. At first pairs of tape recorders were used, then later multitrack recording machines, to produce the effect.
Guard left the band in 1961 as part of a disagreement over its musical direction. He formed the group Whiskey Hill Singers, and was replaced by John Stewart, who led the group through several more years of popularity until the arrival of The Beatles and British invasion rock bands pushed them from the charts.
In 1967 the Trio disbanded after a final performance at the Hungry i, June 17, 1967.
Shane, the lone member to resist the break-up of the Trio, started a new group, aptly named, "The New Kingston Trio," in 1969. Eventually, Shane was successful in reaching a contractual agreement with his former partners, Guard, Reynolds, and Werber, to secure and license once again, the original name, "The Kingston Trio" (unencumbered by the adjective new), in 1976.(Blake et al. 1986.) Shane still owns the property today, 2006.
For a number of years in the 1980s Reynolds, one of the original three members, rejoined Shane.
In 2004 Shane retired from the group due to health problems. He was replaced by Bill Zorn, who had been with Shane in an iteration of the group called The New Kingston Trio; Zorn also has been a member of The Limeliters.
In 2005 Bobby Haworth (a one-time member of The Brothers Four) left the group to be replaced by Rick Dougherty, who also had been a member of The Limeliters.
As of 2006, The Kingston Trio consisted of George Grove, Bill Zorn and Rick Dougherty.
in October 2017, Grove, Zorn, and Dougherty were replaced as the Trio by new licensees Reynolds and Marvin and their friend, Tim Gorelangton. In 2018, Josh Reynolds left the group and was replaced by Bob Haworth, who became a member of the band for the third time. At the end of 2018, Haworth left the group and was replaced by Don Marovich.
The River Is Wide
The Kingston Trio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nor do I have light wings to fly
There'll be a boat that can carry two
And both shall row, my love and I
My love is like the lofty tree
It shudders fears and then sways free
If it should fade when the summer's through
When love is young, then love is fine
Just like a gem when first it's new
But love grows old and waxes cold
And fades away like the morning dew
The river is wide, I cannot see
Nor do I have light wings to fly
There'll be a boat that can carry two
And both shall row, my love and I
The Kingston Trio's song "The River Is Wide" is a tale of love and the journey that two people take together. The opening lines describe the vastness of the river, which the singer cannot see across. He also acknowledges that he doesn't have the ability to fly across it, so he needs to find a boat to cross with his love. He talks about how the boat can only carry two, so they will row together, a metaphor for the journey they will take together in life.
The second verse compares the singer's love to a tree, describing how it can sway and bend but will always come back stronger in the spring. The third verse acknowledges that love can be beautiful in its early stages, but sometimes fades as time goes on. However, the chorus reinforces that the love between the two people is strong enough to overcome any obstacles they may face in life.
Overall, the song speaks to the journey of love, from its early stages to its eventual maturity, and how love can help us get through difficult times. It's a poignant reminder that no matter how vast the obstacles we face, there is always a way forward if we have love to guide us.
Line by Line Meaning
The river is wide, I cannot see
I find myself in a difficult situation where the way forward is unclear and I am unsure of what to do.
Nor do I have light wings to fly
I lack the means to escape my present circumstances and must find another way to move through this challenge.
There'll be a boat that can carry two
Despite my current obstacles, there will be a solution that can carry both myself and my loved one to safety.
And both shall row, my love and I
Together, we will work to overcome whatever lies ahead and support each other through this difficult time.
My love is like the lofty tree
My beloved is strong and steadfast like a tall and resilient tree that endures through all kinds of hardships.
It shudders fears and then sways free
Despite any worries or doubts, my love remains resilient and adaptable - able to bend and sway with the changing winds while remaining rooted in our shared love.
If it should fade when the summer's through
Even if our passion fades or we face difficult times, I believe our love is resilient enough to survive and flourish once again.
She'll bloom again when the spring shines through
Like a flower that wilts in the winter but blooms again in the springtime, I believe our love can weather any storm and grow stronger with time.
When love is young, then love is fine
In the early stages of a romance, everything feels perfect and blissful - like nothing could ever go wrong.
Just like a gem when first it's new
Like a precious jewel that seems to sparkle more brightly when first discovered, new love can feel exhilarating and magical.
But love grows old and waxes cold
However, over time, the intensity of that initial passion may fade, and relationships can become more difficult or strained.
And fades away like the morning dew
Just like the dew that evaporates in the light of day, some relationships may not withstand the trials of time and will eventually come to an end.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
BloozeDaddy
Such a beautiful tranquil song by the Trio and one of their best tunes in my opinion. This is pure easy listening at its finest that soothes the mind and soul.
Tai Chi Man
Gentle, emotional, and fantastic! Thank you for sharing it. RIP guys. You've brought joy, encouragement, and fun to many many people around the world!
908shayes
Great song. Great memories. I'm glad I lived in a time that their songs were on the radio and I grew up loving their songs and other folk musicians.
Aileen Lightbody
Beautiful song beautifully sung. Always makes me feel quite emotional.
Carlyle Woodard
Aileen Lightbody like you.I love the KTrio
John Dickey
This is one of my all-time Kingston Trio favorites, Claudia...always beautiful. Thanks so much for uploading it for YouTubers and all others. John
MrTmac1945
It shudders fierce, then sways free . . .
Great lyrics!
Guitar
Very nostalgic of the ‘60s! Beautiful interpretation!
Geoff Palmer
To think I grew up with the songs of the Kingston Trio and The McCalmans resounding in my head. A sad loss to live folk music that they are no longer appearing. I was a regular at The Black Horse Folk Club at Telham, between Hastings and Battle and saw many great folk acts there. Just a shame they considered food more important than the music!!! Food is for the moment, music is forever.
Ian Willian Bolfarini
Thanks for posting, a great so unknown song in my country. I wish I had this in my chilhood like so many others. I'll try to find some material on line. It looks very much with Peter Paul and Mary style, it's always great find out some musics that you indentify yourself with.