Among the hundreds of artists he's worked with include Phil Ochs, Tim Buckley, Haruomi Hosono, The Byrds, Rufus Wainwright, Harry Nilsson, Randy Newman, Ry Cooder, U2, Joanna Newsom, Inara George, Keith Moon, Frank Zappa, Harpers Bizarre, Little Feat, Ringo Starr, Silverchair, and Skrillex.
In addition to producing, Parks has released seven studio albums of his own recordings: Song Cycle, Discover America, Clang of the Yankee Reaper, Jump!, Tokyo Rose, Songs Cycled, and with Brian Wilson, Orange Crate Art. He has also released a live album, Moonlighting: Live at the Ash Grove. His first official release was the 1966 single Number Nine, a modernized version of Beethoven's 9th backed with Do What You Wanta.
Parks has also established himself in film scores, and over the years has directed, arranged, produced, and composed soundtracks for a great number of motion pictures and television shows.
During his childhood, Parks became extremely fond of old-style American music, most notably the sounds of Tin Pan Alley. This interest in Depression-era songwriting would correlate heavily with his artistic goals and interests during the 1960s and beyond. He was also deeply affected by musicians Spike Jones and Les Paul, which led him to develop an interest with studio experimentation in the form of pop music.
Riverboat
Van Dyke Parks Lyrics
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And the fire just a keep on burning
Big boat just a keep on rocking
Opportunitiy just keep on knocking
Time dies tryin' to fly by
Gotta grain of love in my eye
On land they're fighting man to man
Tryin' to beat each other if they can
Riverboat just a keep on chuggin'
We just keep right on huggin'
We got love yes we have we got love
Rain just a keep on pouring
Love just a keep on growing
Opportunity knocking
Big boat just a keep a rocking
Riverboat just keep on chugging, listen
We just keep a right on huggin' and kissin'
We got love yes we have we got love
Big wheel just a keep on turning
And the fire just a keep on burning
Big boat just keep on rocking
Opportunuity just keep on knocking
Riverboat keep on chuggin' listen
We just keep right on huggin' and kissin'
We got love yes we have we got love
The song “Riverboat” by Van Dyke Parks is a catchy and upbeat tune with a positive message of love and unity for humanity. The song begins with the imagery of a big wheel turning, a fire burning, and a big boat rocking, indicating that the world continues to move forward with or without us. The lyrics then suggest that time flies by quickly, and despite this, the singer remains steadfast and has a grain of love in their eye. This references the idea that love is a constant, enduring force that provides comfort and meaning in our lives.
Parks goes on to observe that despite the conflicts and wars taking place on land, the riverboat continues to chug along peacefully, with people hugging and kissing each other. This contrast highlights the theme of love and unity being stronger than division and conflict. Furthermore, the repetition of the phrase “We got love yes we have we got love” reinforces the importance of this universal feeling and its power to bring us together.
Overall, “Riverboat” is a simple yet uplifting song that encourages listeners to embrace love and unity rather than division and conflict. It provides a feel-good message to lift the spirit and remind us of the enduring power of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Big wheel just a keep on turning
Despite the challenges that come with life, we must keep going and never give up.
And the fire just a keep on burning
Just like the flame in a fire, our passion and drive must continue to burn bright.
Big boat just a keep on rocking
Even though the boat may rock and sway, we must keep moving forward and adapting to changes.
Opportunitiy just keep on knocking
There will always be opportunities that present themselves, we must be ready to seize them when they knock.
Time dies tryin' to fly by
Time goes by quickly so it's important to make the most of every moment we have.
Gotta grain of love in my eye
Love is a powerful force that can motivate us and give us hope even in the toughest of times.
On land they're fighting man to man
Conflict and disagreements are common on land among people.
Tryin' to beat each other if they can
People often try to outdo each other and compete for various reasons.
Riverboat just a keep on chuggin'
The riverboat is a metaphor for life, which keeps moving forward no matter what.
We just keep right on huggin'
Amidst the chaos and hardships of life, we must hold onto love and affection.
We got love yes we have we got love
Love is a constant and powerful force in our lives that can sustain us through difficult times.
Rain just a keep on pouring
Just like rain falls from the sky, love and positivity can keep pouring into our lives.
Love just a keep on growing
Love is not stagnant but grows and evolves over time.
Riverboat just keep on chugging, listen
We must pay attention to the flow of life and be aware of the changes happening around us.
We just keep right on huggin' and kissin'
Love and affection are important parts of our lives that we should hold onto tightly.
We got love yes we have we got love
Love is a powerful force that can bring us together and sustain us through tough times.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ALLEN TOUSSAINT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind