“Its coming on Christmas, they’re cutting down trees, they’re putting up reindeer, and singing songs of joy and peace. Oh, I wish I had a river to skate away on…”
One of the saddest but one of my favorites.
So sings Joni Mitchell on quite possibly one of the saddest holiday tunes ever recorded to tape. A cornerstone track off her 1971 LP, Blue, “River,” complete with it’s faux “Jingle Bells” piano intro, has since been covered by many artists but never once executed with the depth and gravity of the authors original. Essential.
Posted on 12/22/2007
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My Trusted MOGs
Great tune dude, good choice. I agree with your call. This is a sadness from the depths of emptiness, lonliness. A postcard from a rootless soul.
My Trusted MOGs
The little one's wide-eyed stared is priceless!
My Trusted MOGs
Joni's voice is magic and her words are pure poetry. I have 4 versions of this - Sarah McLachlan, Madeleine Peyroux, James Taylor and of course Joni's . Joni's is by far the one that gets to me every time.
Thanks for the post.
My Trusted MOGs
she is the shit!
My Trusted MOGs
This is my favorite Xmas song. I agree there have been great covers but none capture the sadness of the original.