Natalie Merchant — River
Album: TigerlilyAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 238
Length: 5:23
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Young and strong Hollywood son
In the early morning light
This star fell down
On Sunset Boulevard
Young and strong beautiful one
That we embrace so close
Is gone
Was torn away
Let the youth of America mourn
Include him in their prayers
Let his image linger on
Repeat it everywhere
With candles and flowers
He was one of ours
One of ours
Why don't you let him be?
He's gone
We know
Give his mother and his father peace
Your vulture's candor
Your casual slander
You murder his memory
He's gone
We know
It's nothing but a tragedy
Lay to rest your soul
and body
Lay beside your name
Lay to rest your rage
Your hunger and amazing grace
With candles and flowers
You were one of ours
One of ours
I saw cameras expose your life
I heard rumours explode with lies
I saw children in tears
Cry and crowd around the sight
Of where you had collapsed that day
Where your last breath and word
Had been sighed
Where your heart had burst
Where you had died
I saw how they were lost and grieving
All half believing you were gone
The loss and the pain of it
Crime and the shame of it
You were gone
It was such a nightmare raving
"How can we save him
From himself?"
In the early morning light
This star fell down
On Sunset Boulevard
Young and strong beautiful one
That we embrace so close
Is gone
Was torn away
Let the youth of America mourn
Include him in their prayers
Let his image linger on
Repeat it everywhere
With candles and flowers
He was one of ours
One of ours
Why don't you let him be?
He's gone
We know
Give his mother and his father peace
Your vulture's candor
Your casual slander
You murder his memory
He's gone
We know
It's nothing but a tragedy
Lay to rest your soul
and body
Lay beside your name
Lay to rest your rage
Your hunger and amazing grace
With candles and flowers
You were one of ours
One of ours
I saw cameras expose your life
I heard rumours explode with lies
I saw children in tears
Cry and crowd around the sight
Of where you had collapsed that day
Where your last breath and word
Had been sighed
Where your heart had burst
Where you had died
I saw how they were lost and grieving
All half believing you were gone
The loss and the pain of it
Crime and the shame of it
You were gone
It was such a nightmare raving
"How can we save him
From himself?"
Comments (6)add comment
Strange comments clearly written by folks who have no idea the significance of this song. This is obviously a tribute to River Phoenix. He was an incredible talent and a rising star at the time this was written. It was tragic to lose him at such an early age from an overdose. She is not lecturing as one comment suggests, she is clearly writing about how disturbing his death was and how disrespectful the media coverage was. Still brings tears. Beautiful.
okskyhi wrote:
Good question okskyhi - Like most sensitive singers, she's probably expressing something that's a mystery even to herself; one she will never understand and not know where it started.
Apparently about river Phoenix. Could have been James Dean or Elvis. Prince, Michael Jackson?
Good question okskyhi - Like most sensitive singers, she's probably expressing something that's a mystery even to herself; one she will never understand and not know where it started.
Indeed Ms Merchant. Let him be. We do not need a song lecturing on the matter. Do we?
I love your work; I hope this shall be a forgivable anomaly. Be well.
Read the lyrics before turning up the song, ready to not like it given the slightly cliched words. But what a voice. Natalie could be singing Mary Had A Little Lamb, and that voice would raise it to some higher level also. Well, and then there are those eyes, from the album cover, looking right through you. Beautiful singer, beautiful voice.
Apparently about river Phoenix. Could have been James Dean or Elvis. Prince, Michael Jackson?
Indeed Ms Merchant. Let him be. We do not need a song lecturing on the matter. Do we? I love your work; I hope this shall be a forgivable anomaly. Be well.
Silly comment. Even more so considering its a thirty year old song.