Songwriter Bobby Sandstrom helped them write and record demos. The group eventually signed a music publishing deal with Sony's RCA Record. After several years of work, they finally could make a major release.
In the fall of 1996, Wild Orchid released their self-titled debut album Wild Orchid. The largely self-written album sold nearly a million units worldwide and included the singles "Talk To Me" (which was included in the hit movie Fools Rush In), "At Night I Pray," and "Supernatural." The album received two Billboard Award nominations for "Talk To Me," two Lady Of Soul/Soul Train Award nominations - one for Album of The Year by A Group, Band or Duo and one for Best Music Video for "Talk To Me," and an American Music Award nomination for Favorite R&B/Soul New Artist.
In late 1997, the group toured with 98 Degrees and *NSync, and in the summer of 1998 the trio released their second album, Oxygen which included the single "Be Mine."
Wild Orchid also hosted the ABC Family Channel's Saturday morning show "Great Pretenders," which featured chart hits lip-synched by everyday kids, while competing for prizes. They also went on a 52-city tour with Cher and Cyndi Lauper.
In 2001, the group released "Stuttering (Don't Say)," which reached the Top 40 chart, and had a concert special on Much Music, on July 29, 2001. Stacy parted ways with Renee and Stefanie shortly after in September 2001, leaving Wild Orchid to continue on as a duo. Stacy joined the Hip-Hop group Black Eyed Peas in 2003 under the stage name Fergie. Wild Orchid's third studio album as a trio, Fire, was never released, although a song off the album called "It's All Your Fault" was featured in the 2001 film What Women Want.
In 2004, Wild Orchid, consisting of Renee and Stefanie, released their fourth studio album "Hypnotic". Unfortunately, it failed to make the Billboard charts. Since then, Renee has been doing work as a session singer and Stefanie is now a member of the House/Techno duo, 5th Element.
The River
Wild Orchid Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thinkin' 'bout your ways baby
Trying to forget how to swim
As I stood there, watching the train go by
Oh what a message, that's when I realized
Oh baby, is it gonna last very long
Look at the river and how it keeps movin' on
Look at the river and how it keeps movin' on
Movin' on
My emotions move with the current and the wind
No direction and no definite end
That's when I realized how the ripples
In the water seemed to shine
Reminds me of you and I baby, at one point in time
And just like a river, like a river flowin', into a waterfall
After falling are we moving on, I can feel the flow
Under the train bridge, it keeps movin' on
Goes down to the whirlpool, it keeps movin' on
No still waters baby, gonna hold me down
All I want to know is, are you comin' with me
The lyrics to Wild Orchid's "The River" suggests a personal reflection on a failing relationship, as the singer contemplates jumping into the river to forget how to swim. The river is a metaphor for time and how it keeps moving forward, regardless of one's personal struggles. As the train goes by, the singer has a moment of realization that the relationship he/she is in may not last much longer. This realization is further emphasized in the chorus as the singer looks at the river and acknowledges how it keeps moving on, much like time.
The imagery of the river and its flow is used to convey the idea of the inevitability of change. The river represents the ever-changing nature of life, and its persistence reminds the singer that everything will continue, even after the relationship ends. The lyrics also contain a hint of hope as the singer recognizes that, like the river, he/she is also flowing and moving on.
The second verse uses the metaphor of ripples in the water to represent the memories of the past relationship. The singer compares the ripples to how he/she used to feel about the partner, which seems to have faded over time. Like the water flowing into a waterfall, the relationship seems to have reached a point of no return, and the singer can feel the flow of life carrying him/her forward.
Overall, "The River" is a song about accepting change and moving through tough times. The lyrics suggest that relationships are like water; they ebb, flow, and change, but despite everything, life keeps moving forward.
Line by Line Meaning
I went to the river, thinkin' 'bout jumpin' in
I went to the river, contemplating whether or not to take the plunge
Thinkin' 'bout your ways baby
Thinking about the ways in which you affect me, my thoughts and my feelings
Trying to forget how to swim
Attempting to forget how to navigate through the waters of life
As I stood there, watching the train go by
While standing there, watching the train pass, going somewhere, anywhere but here
Oh what a message, that's when I realized
I received a message, a symbol of change, and at that moment I finally understood
Oh baby, is it gonna last very long
Is our love going to endure the test of time?
Look at the river and how it keeps movin' on
See how the river moves forward, leaving everything behind as it adapts to change
Oh baby, what we have is almost gone
Our relationship is rapidly coming to an end, it's almost over
Movin' on
Continuing towards something new, something unknown
My emotions move with the current and the wind
My feelings flow, just like the current of the river and the direction of the wind
No direction and no definite end
I'm lost, directionless, and there's no clear end in sight
That's when I realized how the ripples
It was at that moment that I became aware of the ripples that are created in life
In the water seemed to shine
The ripples in the water glisten and sparkle, catching the light like a glimpse of hope
Reminds me of you and I baby, at one point in time
The ripples in the water remind me of how our love shone and glimmered in the past
And just like a river, like a river flowin', into a waterfall
Just like the river that flows so relentlessly, rushing towards the unknown, eventually crashing into the waterfall
After falling are we moving on, I can feel the flow
After the fall, after everything we've been through, we keep moving forward and I feel the flow of life
Under the train bridge, it keeps movin' on
The river keeps moving, it never stops, even underneath the train bridge
Goes down to the whirlpool, it keeps movin' on
Even as the river takes us toward the whirlpool, it keeps moving forward, never turning back
No still waters baby, gonna hold me down
There are no calm waters in life that can keep me anchored, I need to keep moving forward
All I want to know is, are you comin' with me
I need to know if you're willing to take this journey with me, to move forward into the unknown together
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BENNETT SMITH, James Needle, Toby Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind