Till Bronner / River Man (2006)

For years now, I’ve listened to late night radio Coast to Coast with George Noory. One of the most hauntingly beautiful songs I ever heard was the bumper music to begin various sections of his show. I was never able to find the name of the song and through research found it was titled “River Man” on Nick Drake’s 1969 album Five Leaves Left.  According to Drake’s manager, Drake thought of the song as the centrepiece of the album. The song is in the unusual 5/4 time signature similar to Dave Brubeck’s “Take Five.”

Nick Drake lived to just 26 and released only three albums, but decades later, musicians are still discovering his work and citing him as an influence. “River Man” is a song that comes up a lot in Drake discussions.

The version above is one of the best versions of the song by German musician Till Bronner. Since the first release of the song, there has been a continual discussion about what the song means. But like many great songs, it means different things to different people.

And too, I’m not so sure the meaning is to be found in the words of the song but really in the falling plateaus of music in the background of the words of the song. Rarely has music time signature mixed with a new approach to music as represented in “River Man.”

The power of the melody and the context of the song is more important for me than the content (Lyrics, words) of “River Man.” The mixture of words would drive even Dylan crazy it seems to me and I think relate more to the personal images inside Drake, known only to him. Why should the images be for anyone else in the first place? Music was the way to release personal demons for Nick Drake. Not make a killing in giving the mass what they wanted. Like the Stones, Beatles … the entire British invasion.

He was going a different way but unfortunately he ended his own life too soon by over-dosing on his own medications. He was only 26 years old.

The end to such a promising life.

You look into Nick Drake on the Internet (like Wikipedia below) and soon you’ll find a number of Nick Drake sites. He is still highly praised although he only recorded three albums. But look at just one of his YouTube versions of River Man which has over five million hits.

___________________________

NOTES

Nick Drake in Wikipedia.

Lyrics to River Man

Betty came by, on her way
Said she had a word to say
‘Bout things today
And fallen leaves
Said she hadn’t heard the news
Hadn’t had the time to choose
A way to lose
But she believes
Gonna see the river man
Gonna tell him all I can
About the plan
For lilac time
If he tells me all he knows
‘Bout the way his river flows
And all night shows
In summertime
Betty said she prayed today
For the sky to blow away
Or maybe stay
She wasn’t sure
For when she thought of summer rain
Calling for her mind again
She lost the pain
And stayed for more
Gonna see the river man
Gonna tell him all I can
About the ban
On feeling free
If he tells me all he knows
‘Bout the way his river flows
I don’t suppose
It’s meant for me
Oh, how they come and go
Oh, how they come and go