What are the lyrics?
I wish I could skate on a river, it made me weak in the knees. She put me at ease, she tried hard to help me. She made me cry like a baby. Oh, I wish I could skate away on a river. I wish I had a river so long that it could teach me to fly on my feet. I wish I could skate away. I’m gonna make a lot of money by quitting this crazy scene. The snow stays pretty and green here, but oh, I wish I could skate away on a river. Singing songs of peace and joy, putting up reindeer, cutting down trees. Christmas is coming.
I’m so hard to handle,I’m selfish and I’m sad.Now I’ve gone and lost the best babyThat 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 reindeerAnd singing songs of joy and peace,Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on.
Which album is it on?
‘River’ was recorded in 1971 and was included on Mitchell’s iconic album Blue.
It later featured on her 2005 compilation Songs of a Prairie Girl.
Is it a Christmas song?
During the holiday season, the singer is setting the song with a sad feeling that she won’t be sharing Christmas with her former partner anymore.
The piano accompaniment borrows heavily from ‘Jingle Bells’, adding another festive touch.
While ‘River’ has become a modern Christmas standard, it isn’t actually about Christmas itself.
Who has covered it?
Several musicians have performed the song, typically on holiday albums.
These include:
– Barry Manilow
– Sarah McLachlan
– James Taylor
– Sara Bareilles
– Cee Lo Green
– Madeleine Peyroux with kd Lang
– Travis
– Angus Stone
– Ronan Keating
– Gavin James
– Lea Michele (in Glee)
– Idina Menzel
– Marti Pellow
Ellie Goulding has scored the biggest UK hit with the song, reaching the top 10 in 2019 after it was recorded as Amazon Music exclusive.