About the song
“The River,” Bruce Springsteen’s ambitious fifth studio album, stands as a testament to his evolution as a songwriter and bandleader, capturing the essence of the E Street Band’s live energy within a studio recording. Released on October 17, 1980, as a sprawling double album, it marked a departure from Springsteen’s earlier work, aiming to blend the raw intensity of their stage performances with deeply introspective songwriting.
Following the success of “Darkness on the Edge of Town” and its subsequent tour, Springsteen envisioned “The River” as a cohesive band effort, reflecting their collective experiences and the realities of blue-collar America. The album’s production spanned 18 months of meticulous recording sessions in New York City, overseen by Springsteen, his manager Jon Landau, and bandmate Steven Van Zandt. Originally conceived as a single LP titled “The Ties That Bind,” Springsteen expanded his vision to encompass a broader narrative that delved into themes of love, marriage, and family, drawing lyrical inspiration from authors like Flannery O’Connor.
Musically, “The River” fused heartland rock with a garage-band spontaneity, interspersing anthemic party tracks with poignant ballads. Tracks like “Hungry Heart,” a chart-topping hit, and the title track itself showcased Springsteen’s ability to craft memorable melodies while exploring deeper emotional landscapes. The album resonated widely, topping charts in the U.S., Canada, and Norway, and receiving critical acclaim for its lyrical depth and the E Street Band’s dynamic performances.
Springsteen supported the album with an extensive tour, where the songs from “The River” took on new life in the live setting, reinforcing their thematic weight and emotional resonance. Despite initial mixed reviews, with some critics accusing Springsteen of rehashing old material, “The River” has since earned its place as one of his most revered works. Its impact is felt not only in Springsteen’s discography but also in its influence on subsequent generations of musicians.
In 2015, “The River” received a deluxe reissue, including the original scrapped single LP and a documentary chronicling its creation, further solidifying its status as a cornerstone of American rock music. Springsteen’s vision of capturing the raw essence of live performance within a studio album remains a landmark achievement, reflecting his enduring commitment to storytelling and musical authenticity.
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Lyrics
I come from down in the valley
Where, mister, when you’re young
They bring you up to do like your daddy done
Me and Mary we met in high school
When she was just seventeen
We drive out of this valley
Down to where the fields were green
We’d go down to the river
And into the river we’d dive
Oh, down to the river we’d ride
Then I got Mary pregnant
And man, that was all she wrote
And for my nineteenth birthday
I got a union card and a wedding coat
We went down to the courthouse
And the judge put it all to rest
No wedding day smiles, no walk down the aisle
No flowers, no wedding dress
That night we went down to the river
And into the river we’d dive
Oh, down to the river we did ride
Yeah, yeah
I got a job working construction
For the Johnstown Company
But lately there ain’t been much work
On account of the economy
Now all them things that seemed so important
Well mister they vanished right into the air
Now I just act like I don’t remember
Mary acts like she don’t care
But I remember us riding in my brother’s car
Her body tan and wet, down at the reservoir
At night on them banks I’d lie awake
And pull her close just to feel each breath she’d take
Now those memories come back to haunt me
They haunt me like a curse
Is a dream a lie if it don’t come true
Or is it something worse
That sends me down to the river
Though I know the river is dry
That sends me down to the river tonight
Down to the river
My baby and I
Oh, down to the river we ride-ide
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh