Mitchell, Joni - River Lyrics

Her beautiful weaving of "Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the Way" in different notes into the Intro and again at the end in still different notes, but still the same tune was amazing..
Back then, when I was barely 20, no one, absolutely No One did the things to music in the manner that this little blonde girl from Canada did... Thank you, Joni Mitchell !!! for over 50 years, you have made so many people happy..

Yes I am. Defenitely.

Lyrics:


It's coming on Christmas,
They're cutting down trees.
Putting up reindeer
Singing songs of joy and peace,
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on.
But it don't snow here,
Stays pretty green.
I'm gonna make a lot of money
Gonna quit this crazy scene.
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on.
I wish I had a river so long,
I would teach my feet to fly.
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on.
I made my baby cry.
She tried hard to help me,
She put me at ease.
She loved me so naughty,
made me weak in the knees.
Oh I wish I had a river I could skate away on.
I'm so hard to handle,
I'm selfish and I'm sad.
Now I've gone and lost the best baby
That I've ever had.
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on
I wish I had a river so long,
I would teach my feet to fly.
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on.
I made my baby say goodbye.
Say goodbye.
It's coming on Christmas,
They're cutting down trees.
Putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace,
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on.

Billions...

Almost Famous brought me to this song...beautiful song and great movie!

Beautiful, haunting and takes the breath away, so smoothly done; she is a genius.

Crying 😢

Here because of Meg Ryan in You've got mail ❤❄

Discovered Ellie Gouldings version but when I heard this original was in tears. Going through a very bad breakup right now and this song spoke to me 💕

It’s so hard to be in your position, I’ve been there long ago. I now am married to the absolute love of my life for the past 35 years. There is hope that it will get better. I feel for you. Keep strong. X

I was with mine 25 years and had 5 kids with her it hurts bad. Thank you for your kind words

@Andy really sorry to hear that. I hope you find a way to move forward, but so difficult for you. Look after yourself.

@AniWatX thank you I live in hope

Have you heard the wonderful version of Katie Melua?

here because of the politician on netflix. i thought ben platt wrote this but woah. she’s really good.

Merry Christmas to all! Love this song because I'm a sad soul I guess with a great big smile!

Simply put? Achingly beautiful.

Love voice, love song!

for my sweet sherry may you rest in peace . i loved you so.

I cry to this song every christmas...

Ellie Goulding does nice but it sent me back to this miracle

Me too, heard it on the radio, thought it was good then came to this one. no-one can hold a light to this original

Nothing sent me here. It’s simply an amazing piece of art.

I think Robert Downey Jr's cover is better :)

Such a beautiful song. Elle Goulding cover is so lovely. But I’m old school and love this original. I wish I had a river I could skate away on. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️.

Beautiful! My all-time fave Joni Mitchell song 🎶🎵❤️; and Song For Sharon...

Ditto, Song for Sharon gets me every time!

I never heard this song before! Very poignant!

This is much better than the shit version of ellie goulding

Haunting.

..... auf dem ich auf Schlittschuhen davonlaufen könnte... 💓

This is one of the only Christmas so GS that can make me cry. It’s so beautiful. Thank you Joni. 💜💜💜

Forever Alberta and Saskatchewan xxxxx

As a young, single woman, Joni gave her baby up for adoption. The lyrics: "I made my baby cry" and, "I gave away the best baby I ever had" and, "I made my baby say goodbye" makes the song even more heart wrenching. She didn't find her again until her baby was an adult in her thirties.

@Chris okay but that's not a confirmation either friend

Chris Insightful!!

@Chris thank you chris

I heard about this song on BBC. A woman said this song was about Joni and Graham Nash's relations. He wanted to propose to her, but Joni refused because she wanted to pursue her musicial career, although she loved him. Also a newborn baby can't really try so hard to put anyone at ease (reference to the song) so, a w+m version adds up better

@Chris But still, there is no proof, Chris, that this song is about her child is there...
I have always thought that this song is about her boyfriend.. The only song I know of that IS about her child is the song "GREEN" on he "Blue" album...

Thanks Cheryl Magness from The Federalist.

I loved her in my early days. Try "Miles of Aisles" for some of her best.

The Wonder Years sent me here.
S2 · E3 · Christmas

It's coming on Christmas,
They're cutting down trees.
Putting up reindeer
Singing songs of joy and peace,
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on.

But it don't snow here,
Stays pretty green.
I'm gonna make a lot of money
Gonna quit this crazy scene.
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on.

I wish I had a river so long,
I would teach my feet to fly.
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on.
I made my baby cry.

She tried hard to help me,
She put me at ease.
She loved me so naughty,
made me weak in the knees.
Oh I wish I had a river I could skate away on.

I'm so hard to handle,
I'm selfish and I'm sad.
Now I've gone and lost the best baby
That I've ever had.
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on

I wish I had a river so long,
I would teach my feet to fly.
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on.
I made my baby say goodbye.
Say goodbye.

It's coming on Christmas,
They're cutting down trees.
Putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace,
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on.

Drop dead gorgeous song writing. If everyone could express themselves anywhere near this well we'd be living in a world much different than this one.
I too wish I had a river I could skate away on.

Who is here because of Ellie Goulding ?

"It's coming on Christmas, they're cutting down trees. Do you know that Joni Mitchell song? "I wish I had a river I could skate away on?" It's such a sad song, and not really about Christmas at all, but I was thinking about it tonight as I was decorating my Christmas tree and unwrapping funky ornaments made of Popsicle sticks, and missing my mother so much I almost couldn't breathe."

You've Got Mail
One of my favorites.

She is a genius!

To turn sadness and pain into ineffable beauty is a rare thing, and this song does it.

I haven’t even watched The Politician yet. I’m just a Ben stan... love both versions <3

Wonder voise , only like christmas !

This is a monster of a song can't imagine how many modern pop artists would give there left nut to write something on this level not many can! That's why she's a ICON!

True, but *their

Also, it's "AN ICON", not "A ICON"

@WXLTER P_CKL_S not when your from Canada A!!!!!!!

@shawn wright I don't agree with your statement because most modern pop artists don't even write their own songs

Not here due to a movie or TV show. This is just one of the best tunes by one of the best artists ever. Long ago I first heard this. Still listening.

What key is this in?

He is contratenor

Masterpiece... ❤️️

this is the original version??

I´m here because Joni Mitchell, she is a legend and my father always sings this song

I'm named after this f****** song

Good! It's a beautiful name.

Nah fam

Heard this on glee and loved it❤

Fucking gorgeous song. Joni always makes me cry.

Just heard this song from the show ' The Wonder Years ' two days ago.

Payton( the politician) made me love this song...

So Joni doesn't make any money from this?

No one sings this like Joni Mitchell. No one ever will either.

You should listen to ellie gouldings version it did joni proud

Agreed. She’s amazing.

victrine senhouse just listened to it. It is better than most covers. But joni still wins for me.

ben platt’s version is still 🔥 though

The politician

Season 1 the politicain- RIP River

But let's give credit to the original because there wouldn't be a RIP without her

The Politician. Ben Platt.

Who is here because of The polititian on netflix?

Yuri Vianna wait this was in glee? Haha didn’t actually realise that

I'm here because Bela Fleck and The Flecktones did this song.

@Daniel Hershkowitz Keep listening. You'll figure it out. It's actually quite obvious.

Not me but if that’s the case I’m out

Yuri Vianna: Didn’t know there was one! I’ve been listening to Sierra Eagleson, here on YouTube.
After listening to her twice I went back to this one, Joni’s and heard emotion, musicality I hadn’t heard before.
Love Sierra’s hands!

the politician season 1 episode 1

Billions keeps getting mentioned. Robert Downey Jr. did a wonderful version on Ally McBeal almost 20 years ago. Not sure I’ve ever hear a version as good as Joni’s original, though.

Mark Cain Ben Platt- The Politician, give it a listen...it’s incredible

Beck Salas I just saw the first episode of the Politician and hear Platt sing it. Wonderful. I’m a big fan of his.

Sounds like Madonna

then there must be problems with your ears.

No it does not!

No it doesn’t, get your ears adjusted

Far from it!

Billions Season 4 episode 7. Thank you shazam

Durka durka der

"River" is a tearjerker, for sure. Joni is a poet and songwriter of the first order. My folks wouldn't let me go to Woodstock, so like Joni, I sad home and sulked.

billions & good sense of music bring me here

Billions show me this wonderfull music.

Billions Season 4, episode 7 - Infinite Game. This song is amazing.
🥰

I wish I had a river so long,
I would teach my feet to fly.
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on.
I made my baby say goodbye.
Say goodbye

I heard this on Billions the other night...and I knew it was Joni. I grew up listening to her beautiful sad voice. Love this song.

Who's here after Billions?

like if billions bring you to here :) that beauty

Such sublime vulnerability

Bella..

Altra perla di questa bravissima musicista!

Join Mitchell is a genius and a fearless one at that. Her wonderful phrasing can paint images that remain for decades. So universal is her appeal that others have had more hits with her songs than she; Urge for Going, Both Sides Now, Chelsea Morning to name a few.
She has consistently embraced all styles of music without ever imitating any. Rather she simply reinvented them in a way only she can. She truly enjoyed collaborating with other musicians in studio and especially on tour.
There will never be anyone who can actually compare to her, songs from the mid 60's on her first 3 albums hold up to this day.
Everything about this remarkable jewel of a human being is wonderful.

Divine❣️❣️

I heard this on Love Actually and am listening to its very depths purposefully right now. Beautiful <3

This song reminds me of the only lover who loved me so naughty- he actually did make me weak in the knees. Mmmm- memories of my youth. God bless Joni & her poetry.

I heard this for the first time this Christmas . It was on a BBC Radio 4 programme dedicated to the song. The show included people that had been going through various deep struggles in life when this song suddenly came on the Radio and spoke to them. The song had had a prolific effect upon them. Sadly the BBC only allow their radio shows to be heard for 30 days. So if you are seeing this after those 30 days you will have to take my word that this song for the first time of my hearing it brought tears to my eyes.

Gets me every time.

Hej! You can find this episode under their podcast called "soul music" 😊

Ooooh Joni I can so hear the young Canadian accent in your voice when you say “ snoooww” eh? Where ever you are out there in a beautiful home- with lush puffy furniture, peacock feathers, an ancient tea set fit for a queen, paintings from the world on your walls and a big white baby grand. We ( your fans) wish you the merriest Christmas wrapped with a big red bow!
And know that so many more of us have the same wish to “skate away” this year, this time more than any other. God bless and stay comfortable- you’re most deserving.

Another Christmas with smiling faces everywhere...

Interesting that she sampled jingle bells at the end of the song...this is one of my favorites from Joni’s vast repertoire!

«Quoted», «incorporated», but in any case «performed», not «sampled». Sampling is for djs, i.e. nonmusicians.

Love joni

Sampled? Now there's a sign of the times.

Mike Acuri -Joni Mitchell actually plays "Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the Way" in the Intro to this beautiful song of hers.. But she uses different notes I believe a lot of minors, so you hear it but dont hear it if you are not tuned in to her song.. Then, at the end, she does it again, solo on the piano, the same tune, but in yet different notes that just so beautifully, make the original song, Jingle Bells, sound like no other..
Just a genius, this little blonde girl from Canada was !!!

Hello, I have covered this amazing song on my channel, and I would love if anyone could go and have a look! Thank you x @_P6k

December 2018 .....and we still want to fly down the river...

I love this song. It always makes me cry. I'm usually pretty upbeat, but I've had a few Christmases when "I wished I had a river I could skate away on."

Fairy tail of New York is the second best Christmas song

Almost December 2019 now. I need that river more than ever.🙂

Elizabeth Flynn me too. Me too. :)

I wish......

<3!!!!!!