It became the theme song for Andy Williams, who first recorded the song in 1961 and performed it at the Academy Awards ceremonies in 1962. He sang the first eight bars of the song at the beginning of his television show; he also named his production company and venue in Branson, Missouri after Moon River. Williams' version was vetoed by Cadence president Archie Bleyer, who believed it had little or no appeal to teenagers. Williams' famous version never charted, except as an LP track, which he recorded for Columbia in a hit album of 1962.
The success of the song was responsible for relaunching Mercer's career as a songwriter, which had stalled in the mid-1950s because rock and roll replaced jazz standards as the popular music of the time. An inlet near Savannah, Georgia, Johnny Mercer's hometown, was named Moon River in honor of him and this song. The popularity of the song is such that it has been used as a test sample in a study on people's memories of popular songs.
The original version
Mercer and Mancini wrote the song for Audrey Hepburn to fit her vocal range. Initially the lyrics started, "I'm Holly, like I want to be / like Holly on a tree back home...", however they were later changed to fit the theme to the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's.
Although an instrumental version is played over the film's opening titles, the lyrics are first heard in a scene where Paul 'Fred' Varjak (George Peppard) discovers Holly Golightly (Hepburn) singing them, accompanied by her guitar, on the fire-escape outside their apartments.
There was much behind-the-scenes consternation which erupted when a Paramount Pictures executive suggested deleting the song from the film immediately after a very successful San Francisco preview. Hepburn's reaction has been described by Mancini and others in degrees varying from her saying "over my dead body" to her using somewhat more colorful language to make the same point.
Hepburn's version was not included in the original score album to Breakfast at Tiffany's. Instead, an album version recorded by Mancini and his chorus was released as a single and became a #11 hit. In different versions, Joel Whitburn's "Top Adult (Contemporary) Songs" reported the song as a #3 or #1 easy listening hit, due to unpublished charts in Billboard. Only months after Hepburn's death in 1993, her version was released on an album entitled Music from the Films of Audrey Hepburn.
Other recordings
"Moon River" was released by South African singer Danny Williams, and reached #1 in the UK. Shortly thereafter, Andy Williams recorded the song and made it his theme song. It was a hit for Jerry Butler in 1961, reaching #11 in the Billboard charts. Other artists that have covered the song are The Afghan Whigs, Benny Anderssons Orkester, Paul Anka, Blake, Louis Armstrong, Vince Guaraldi, Beru Revue, Mary Black, Sarah Brightman, Liz Callaway, Perry Como, Ray Conniff, Bobby Darin, Ania Dฤ browska, Dr. John, Dump, Billy Eckstine, The Four Freshmen, Connie Francis, Bill Frisell (instrumental), Emi Fujita, Judy Garland, Karel Gott, Grant Green (instrumental), Patty Griffin, The Innocence Mission (although this version is sometimes incorrectly cited as being performed by Milla Jovovich), Bradley Joseph (instrumental), Kim Yoo-jin, James Last, Joey McIntyre, Johnny Mathis, Brad Mehldau, Jane Monheit, Morrissey, Patsy Ann Noble, Jim Reeves, John Barrowman, R.E.M., Mia Riddle, Andrea Ross, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Sarah Vaughan, Nan Vernon, Kid Koala, Westlife, Victoria Williams, The Divine Comedy, and Tata Young.
Mercer himself recorded the song in 1974 for his album (appropriately named) My Huckleberry Friend.
Moon River
Westlife Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm crossing you in style someday
Oh, dream maker, you heartbreaker
Wherever you're going, I'm going your way
Two drifters off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see
We're after the same rainbows end
My huckleberry friend, Moon River and me
(Moon River off to see the world)
(There's such a lot of world to see)
We're after the same rainbows end
Waiting round the bend
My huckleberry friend, Moon River and me
The lyrics to Westlife's song Moon River speak of a journey, an adventure. The song begins by describing the river Moon as being wider than a mile, and the singer crossing it in style, someday. The dream maker is also mentioned, someone who can make dreams come true, but is also a heartbreaker. Despite any uncertainty or misgivings, the singer vows to follow the dream maker wherever they may go.
The following verse introduces us to two drifters who are off to see the world. There is so much to explore and experience in the world, and they are both after the same rainbows end, waiting round the bend. The reference to huckleberry friend is a term that refers to a close friend or companion with whom one shares a special bond. The song concludes by repeating the phrase 'Moon River and me', emphasising the close bond between the singer and the river.
This song is a beautiful tribute to a journey of exploration and companionship, and speaks to the yearning we all have for adventure and the unknown. It speaks to the importance of having a close friend or companion to share these experiences with.
Line by Line Meaning
Moon River wider than a mile
Moon River is very wide and cannot be crossed easily.
I'm crossing you in style someday
I will cross the Moon River in a stylish way sometime in the future.
Oh, dream maker, you heartbreaker
Addressing the river as the creator of dreams, but also acknowledging the heartache it may bring.
Wherever you're going, I'm going your way
I will follow the path of the Moon River wherever it leads.
Two drifters off to see the world
Two people, directionless, are setting off to explore the world.
There's such a lot of world to see
The world is vast and has much to offer in exploration.
We're after the same rainbows end
The two people are searching for the same elusive goal.
Waiting 'round the bend
Their goal is just around the corner and they must keep going.
My huckleberry friend, Moon River and me
The Moon River is their companion on this journey as they set out to achieve their dreams together.
Lyrics ยฉ O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
SHIRO CG
Moon river wider than a mile
I'm crossing you in style someday
Old dream maker, you heartbreaker
Wherever you're going I'm going your way
Two drifters off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see
We're after the same rainbow's end
Waiting round the bend
My huckleberry friend, moon river
And me
Two drifters off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see
We're after the same rainbow's end
Waiting round the bend
My huckleberry friend, moon river
And me
Fachry AL Faruqi
Moon river, wider than a mile
I'm crossing you in style someday
Oh, dream maker
You heartbreaker
Where ever you're going I'm going your way
Two drifters off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see
We're after the same rainbow's end
Waiting round the bend
My huckleberry friend
Moon river and me
Jason Smalls
[Verse]
Moon River wider than a mile
I'm crossing you in style someday
Oh dream maker you heartbreaker
Wherever you're going I'm going your way
Two drifters off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see
We're after the same rainbow's end
Waiting round the bend
My huckleberry friend Moon River and me
[Outro]
(Moon River off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see)
We're after the same rainbow's end
Waiting round the bend
My huckleberry friend Moon River and me
Denis Buckley
I will love this special band forever Westlife are a phenomenon every cover or original song they've ever done has been a masterpiece
Dung
This song is so charming, so sweet. I always love the way westlife bring those amazing songs to us. <3
IloveKdrama
Amazing that they can sing any kind of songs..so proud of being a westlife fan for 2020 years
SnowWhiteQueen091590
I love westlife and all their music ๐๐๐
But I also miss their pop songs like that of "If I let you go" and "When youre looking like that" and "evergreen"
Those are legendary!! ๐
Della Hodge
๐๐๐๐๐
Li Be
OMG Mark!!!!!! ๐โค You're voice in this song is like an angel!!!! ๐ This is perfection!!!! ๐ Thanks for making me start the day with this beautiful voice!!! โค Love from Argentina ๐ฆ๐ทโค
Della Hodge
๐๐๐๐
Finley 3
This is would be a great song to listen to and dancing with someone that you love on the ocean watching the sunset. So romantic, They would be my huckleberry friend forever.
Carol Oliveira
Q lindo!๐๐
Finley 3
All I can say is wow it is beautiful. love that song