Wil was born… Read Full Bio ↴1.) Wil is a Canadian rock/americana/electropop artist.
Wil was born to parents who were both musically proficient. On Friday nights he would sit and listen while his parents played and sung along to the old crooners and guitar legends such as Johnny Cash, Chet Atkins and Hank Williams.
By the age of 13 he was seriously refining and defining his playing style unknowingly blending his love of "old school country" with new diverse punk and alternative rock influences. He subsequently landed his first paying gig in 1992 and spent a number of years honing his musicianship while finding his true voice.
In 2001, Wil wrote his first album "Both Hands" selling over 6000 copies off stage subsequently allowing him to tour with artists such as Colin James, Matthew Good, Joel Plaskett Emergency and Xavier Rudd among others as well earning him 4 nominations at the 2005 WCMA’s including producer and “entertainer of the Year”. The CD has since gone on to sell over 16,000 copies.
For Wil’s sophomore release titled By December he collaborated melodically with some of Canada's most respected musicians; producer and multi-instrumentalist Dave MacKinnon (FemBots), " 54-40's Neil Osborne and Broken Social Scene's Jason Collett among others. In October 2008, Big Life a beautiful track from Wil’s last studio album, By December was featured in a pivotal hospital scene in the ABC TV series, Eli Stone (Johnny Lee Miller).
Wil was recently featured in a White Iron Films, Rosie Award-winning documentary entitled, Music Is The Message: Wil, which detailed Wils ongoing journey within music. The doc was aired on MuchMoreMusic in September 2010 and scooped three awards at the recent ‘Rosies’, including best Best Music or Variety Show.
Wil spent the winter of 2009 at home on Vancouver Island acreage writing the songs for the 2010 release, “In This Together”. These songs made the journey from Wil’s home in the woods to his management’s studio space in Calgary before hopping the border to be fully realized in the recording studio. Wil says, “The recording process…has given me the opportunity to work with a wonderful collective of people; open, honest and loving people who are involved for the sheer love of music and art.
Wil spent the fall and winter of 2010 writing songs for a new album as well as honing his talent for creating music for television and film. Wils song “Ride” was selected as the official theme song for TV of the 100th Anniversary Calgary Stampede as well as landing the songs “Roam”, “Here We Go” and “Look Around in Travel Albertas’ 2011/12 “Remember to Breathe” commercial campaign.
When asked about the writing process for these songs, Wil says, “While watching the incredibly shot footage for these commercials, the words and music just spilled from my head onto the page. I suppose living so near the Rockies kind of rubbed off on me.
Although I now live on Vancouver Island, I still consider myself a “Calgary boy” at heart. On my new record there is a song called “Gold” which is really about my Dad packing up and moving us from Quebec to Calgary where he had been offered a job working as a mechanic for Ingersoll Rand. My Mom, my sister and I cried the whole way to Alberta. In retrospect, I don’t know how he made the trip with us!!
It all worked out for us mind you; my Dad ended with a great job, my Mom’s been working at the same nursing home for 25 years and my wife and I seem to visit her more than when we lived in the same city.
The album, "Heart of Mine" contains 9 tracks written entirely by Wil, then recorded/produced in a small Victoria studio with the help of his drummer, producer/engineer, Jason Cook. Those who have heard it feel it is his best work to date, honest and raw; if one were to label it, roots/rock or indie roots; this is a studio album yet it manages to defiantly capture the energy of Wils’ famous live performances.
Wil is and will remain, the consummate touring musician, developing his expansive roots-rock sound and world-weary lyricism while building a dedicated following for his famously intense live shows. Wil has always preferred to play live either solo or with “just a drummer”. He says that freedom allows him to immerse himself onstage utterly and completely. One such performance was written up by the Calgary Sun as having so much "power and soul it could stop your heart."
http://ibreakstrings.com
2. ) Wil is a stoner / doom metal band based in Chicago, IL.
3. ) WiL is an independent rapper, song writer, based from Stockholm Sweden, always creating unique sounds and vocals, part of XelfGang, along with J Swey and Azide
The River
Wil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lying in the river
Lying to himself
Hey theres a man
Hes dying in the river
Can someone get some help
Can anybody help
Some of those would say
That it takes a small man
To give up in that way
I would have to say
That it takes a lonely man
For dying in that way
Dont let him float away
Hey theres a man
Hes dying in the river
And lying to himself
Dont let that man
Float on down the river
Someone get some help
Cant anybody help
Some of those would say
That it takes a small man
To give up in that way
I would have to say
That it takes a lonely man
To give up in that way
Dont let him get away
Oh God its me
Lying in the river
I gave up on that day
Dont let me float away
Some of those would say
Hes dying on that... day
The lyrics to Wil's song "The River" poetically illustrate the dangerous downward spiral of a man who has given up on life. The first two stanzas introduce the man lying in the river, and lying to himself. The repetition of "lying" in the first two lines emphasizes the man's self-deception and denial. The repetition of "hey there's a man" emphasizes his presence and the danger he is in. The urgency of the lyrics is amplified as the singer implores listeners to get help for the man before it is too late.
The chorus is a plea for someone to help the man before he floats away. The lyrics explore the idea that some may view this man's situation as a small or weak choice, but the singer sees it as a result of loneliness and pain. This suggests that the man has reached a point where he cannot bear the weight of his own emotional turmoil any longer. The repetition of "don't let him get away" emphasizes the singer's hope that someone will come to the man's aid.
The last stanza takes a surprising turn as the singer reveals that it is actually himself lying in the river. The abrupt switch from third to first person creates a powerful moment of self-revelation. The personal pronoun "me" intensifies the emotional impact of the confession. The lyrics are a plea to be saved and not let go. Overall, the lyrics capture the struggle to fight against despair and to stay afloat when facing overwhelming adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, theres a man
There is a man in front of us
Lying in the river
The man is lying in the river
Lying to himself
The man is not being truthful with himself
Hey theres a man
There is still a man in front of us
Hes dying in the river
The man is in the process of dying in the river
Can someone get some help
We need someone's assistance
Can anybody help
Is there anyone who can assist us
Some of those would say
Some people might argue
That it takes a small man
That someone who gives up is weak
I would have to say
I personally believe
That it takes a lonely man
It takes someone who is alone and struggling
For dying in that way
To be in the process of dying in such a manner
Dont let him float away
Don't let the man drift away in the river
Hey theres a man
The man is still in front of us
Hes dying in the river
The man is still in the process of dying in the river
And lying to himself
The man is still not being truthful with himself
Dont let that man
Do not allow the man to
Float on down the river
Drift further away in the river
Cant anybody help
Is there no one who can offer assistance
Some of those would say
Some people might posit
That it takes a small man
That it is a sign of weakness to give up
To give up in that way
To surrender in such a manner
I would have to say
My personal belief is
That it takes a lonely man
It requires someone who is lonely and struggling
To give up in that way
To surrender in such a manner
Dont let him get away
Do not let him slip away
Oh God its me
The man is realizing that it is his own situation
Lying in the river
The man is still lying in the river
I gave up on that day
The man has surrendered to his fate
Dont let me float away
Do not allow the man to drift away in the river
Some of those would say
Some people might argue
Hes dying on that... day
He is in the process of dying today
Contributed by Thomas M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Olivia Bell
One of my favorite movies, but the poor kids clearly felt like they had to b.s. a little bit here.
Wil was close with River and is still cool with Jerry.
But Corey was a total bully to Wil while they were filming.
In Corey's defense, *Corey himself was bullied by his dad in real life, a lot like his character, Teddy in SBM.
But yeah, Corey & Wil were not exactly
"best friends".
And, Honest Abe, River Phoenix,
cuts through the b.s. briefly😆
*Looks at Corey, & says:
"We kinda had our bad moments too."
He never was comfortable with bullshitting.
So he kept it real for that moment in this interview, without throwing anyone under the bus.
Class Act River, as always🥰
Rinilags03
Timeless. One of the greatest movies of all time. I often wonder how many other amazing performances River Phoenix would have been turning out nowadays.
melani mcready
I think he would be like a cross between his brother and Leonardo di caprio, and probably unstoppable. Rip river.
Stranger Boi 101
He would've won some Oscars.
Rinilags03
@melani mcready I actually remember reading something years ago where Leo DiCaprio said he’d always lose out on roles to River. Don’t know for sure if this is a fact, but I believe River was an original pick for The Basketball Diaries, due to him being a fan of the book, and that it went to Leo after River died. Not only that, I also read that James Cameron had River in mind to be the lead in Titanic when he originally conceptualized the idea for the movie years before he started production. So in reality, DiCaprio’s career is only his career because of River Phoenix’s passing, which is mind blowing to think.
melani mcready
@Rinilags03 i mean im sure Leo would have still done well but probably not the same career he had bc river passed. I think you are right about Basketball Diaries. I have read quite a few biographies about both actors (being a female slightly younger, I had huge crushes on both growing up) River was also cast in Interview with a Vampire, and that role ended up going to Christian Slater.
Camille Carrington
@Rinilags03 actully River didn’t want the role because he didn’t wanna play teens anymore . He turned it down
Craig Morrison
This movie really embodies most young boy's friendships with each other. Something special that just can't be explained. Fantastic storytelling.
RIP River Phoenix.
Linny Crocus
So sweet how River kept putting his arm around Corey and Wil. I sense that he felt like he was the big brother of the cast.
kgunitkeese17
Technically, he was because he was the oldest of the boys. It also comes with the territory of being the oldest child in his actual family.
Shelly Diaz
River was so unique, he had a mix of so many amazing qualities. From what I’ve seen in his interviews, read about him and perceived from his movies, he was a rare soul. Smart, funny, handsome, creative, eloquent, humble, caring, very self aware, crazy talented; he had it all. I wish he were still alive.