Clarks, The - The River Lyrics






I come from down in the valley
Where mister when you're young
They bring you up to do
Like your daddy done
Me and Mary we met in high school
When she was just seventeen
We'd ride out of this valley
Down to where the fields were green

We'd go down to the river
And into the river we'd dive
Oh down to the river we'd ride

Then I got Mary pregnant
And man that was all she wrote
And for my nineteenth birthday
I got a union card and a wedding coat
We went down to the courthouse
And the judge put it all to rest
No wedding day smiles no walk down the aisle
No flowers no wedding dress

We'd go down to the river
And into the river we'd dive
Oh down to the river we'd ride

I got a job working construction
For the Johnstown Company
But lately there ain't been much work
On account of the economy
All them things that seemed so important
Well they just vanished in the air
And I act like I don't remember
Mary acts like she don't care

And I remember us riding in my brother's car
Her body tan and wet down at the reservoir
At night on them banks I'd lie awake
And pull her close to feel each breath she'd take
Those memories come back to haunt me
Well they haunt me like a curse
Is a dream a lie if it don't come true
Or is it something worse

And we'd go down to the river
And into the river we'd dive
Oh down to the river we'd ride
Down to the river
My baby and I
Oh down to the river we'd ride

The river we'd ride
The river we'd ride
The river we'd ride





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Clarks, The The River Comments
  1. J.... S....

    These guys went to IUP! Indiana, PA represent Mfer! Yeah!!!

  2. D.... F....

    Iup 💗💗

    D.... F....

    IUP YES!!!

  3. f.... k....

    This sounds so much better with the clarks doing it. This sounds like it is about growing up in pa. And the clarks are able to emoit that more then the boss.

  4. L.... S....

    Better than Springsteen

  5. L.... S....

    Way down in the valley

  6. R.... ....

    <3 this tune ~
    great cover ... better than springsteen anyday

  7. J.... R....

    High School memories, all my friends eather died or moved away, had kids, started familys, i miss thos days. my girlfriends, and my best friends both died in a car accident the same day. i guess i shouldnt blink, time flys friends. - Thank you for this song guys.

  8. s.... m....

    Love it.

  9. h.... s....

    They went to the river, but as a yinzer i wanna know... what river theres 3

    h.... s....

    They’re from out by fayette.. which one is out there? Lol

  10. j.... p....

    this is really good, but Bruce wrote it, he is the most covered guy in the world. even more than the beattles. he gave away so many awesome songs. because they didnt work with the album he was recording. Check out the box set.Tracks. theres 40 great songs on it. He just pushed them aside. Incredible

  11. L.... S....

    way better than the original

  12. m.... b....

    they are from connellsville not pittsburgh.....fucking idiots

  13. B.... S....

    This is the only version of this song that I like! The Clarks nail it!

  14. L.... R....

    This version blows my mind!?

  15. L.... S....

    the " Boss " wishes he did it this good !

    L.... S....

    Lisa Sweeney xvvcc,xxskddx kmkm f xhdcdkd h sks mhmm s mink if xxx ddssid,mcncccgnxs
    S
    @asaaax ::)

    Xc.mhmm xjsismw ::) ba ::) n bbq a D.C. C'mon.

  16. K.... ....

    song is so much about the Mills,Foundries and Coal mines of Pennsylvania.

    K.... ....

    Kevin actually it was a song by Bruce Springsteen

    K.... ....

    chel lynn actually he didn't write it, someone else did

    K.... ....

    Abe Pika no you are wrong. The boss wrote it.

    K.... ....

    my dad was a coal miner in new florence and bolivar, robinson, alot of them. then they all shut down.

    K.... ....

    @Abe Pika dude the boss totally wrote this.

  17. A.... H....

    this seems gimmicky.

    A.... H....

    Best that came out of the Burgh !

    A.... H....

    @Lisa Sweeney Pittsburgh's a hovel.

    A.... H....

    @Jethromcsheepherder the drum sound

    A.... H....

    @Brian Kennedy , that's my home town

    A.... H....

    @Lisa Sweeney sorry 💋

  18. L.... S....

    IMO , this is Wayyyyyy better than the "boss"

  19. L.... S....

    They rock !

  20. H.... ....

    This song was driving me crazy while trying to find it! Heard it on the local rock station and I'm so glad I found it! :)

  21. J.... P....

    recently came across this cover...huge bruce fan but this is an awesome cover

    J.... P....

    The drums!

  22. P.... ....

    this song puts a lot of images in my mind, and a lot of them are of my grandparents and their house, and many others that i have never experienced. i cant describe what im trying to get across, but basically music is life, music is alive, and its more powerful than we understand

  23. S.... W....

    bruce springsteen is good but this version is much better

    S.... W....

    agree.....

  24. D.... ....

    LETS FUCKING GO! THATS HOW PITTSBURGH DOES IT!!! LETS! FUCKING! GO!!!!!!!

  25. M.... B....

    Probably one of my most favorites of the Clarks songs

  26. D.... M....

    I wondered the same thing! Luv luv the Clarks here in the O-H

  27. s.... ....

    Hearing the CLARKS while in Afghanistan reminds that I love & miss Pittsburgh!!!
    Can't wait to come home.

    s.... ....

    they are for connellsville
    not the burgh

  28. z.... M....

    Hell yeah western PA clarks rock

  29. B.... G....

    cuz there from western Pa and unless ur wiz and rap about WEED u cant get famous... Meanwhile the clarks got more talent in there hair clippings... But people are etarded....

    B.... G....

    B Goyda I heard that the clarks didnt and don't want to go to big. Now whether that's true or not I'm not sure

  30. F.... ....

    Just heard this on WDVE on my way home. SO glad my father's from this time period. God bless the city of jag-offs.

  31. c.... ....

    I know what you mean. I moved to LA seven years ago, but this song always takes me back home.

  32. c.... ....

    TRUE PITTSBURGH STYLE !!!!

  33. c.... ....

    OHHHH the sounds of the BURGH baby !!!! Makes me homesick !

  34. t.... c....

    strikes and gutters... you can buy it on itunes

  35. K.... M....

    Thumbs up if you're listening in 2013

  36. g.... ....

    what album? anybody find a high quality version anywhere?

  37. n.... ....

    From what I've been told they've had all sorts of chances to get huge gigs but just don't seem to want to

  38. P.... F....

    Why did they take this off their setlist? :-(

  39. l.... ....

    Love the Clarks... Their old shit still puts most new shit to shame. Just saying...

  40. d.... r....

    Dance-able "The River" I like it.

  41. d.... ....

    springsteens version is so much more depressing

  42. n.... ....

    where you from in west.pa ?im from gbh.

    n.... ....

    North side Pittsburgh- now known as the North Shore

  43. s.... ....

    @Epiphony Um, it kinda is a downer song. Besides that, kids today wouldn't necessarily get married because it's the "right thing" to do. It's more likely they would just move on and continue procreating randomly...

  44. R.... A....

    Give it up! Both versions are great. Period.

  45. S.... M....

    @Zelmquist Congratulations you managed to spell congratulations wrong.

  46. g.... ....

    killin' me 240p

  47. p.... ....

    Everyone has their own interpretation of music...I think The Clarks did a very good job at making a Springsteen song something people in the central PA area can relate to. I happen to like this version...

  48. S.... ....

    @SteveWooley I agree. Just listened to Boss version and said "hmmm I think the Clarks version is better" but in fact it's just more fun and less of a downer. I also feel it has more of an emotional impact cause it sounds bitter and regretful for a youth missed.

  49. S.... W....

    I think people are talking about two different things. This is definitely a more entertaining version, but I feel Springsteen's has more emotional depth. It's not just sad, there is hope too. It sounds more like a real guy telling his story and it just happens to be set to some haunting music. This is something I'd play on repeat the original is a song you play once and mull over because it affects you so deeply. Both have their place.

  50. J.... B....

    Def like The CLARKS version better !!!!!! <3

  51. Z.... ....

    @tamadrummer20 This version is not as emotional as Bruce's version is. This version is good, but the original by "The Boss" I think is the best.

  52. d.... ....

    from western pa... windber.... goin to see them tomorrow at a aaaba game...

  53. R.... R....

    @broomenpenny Disagreed. Yes, lyrically it's a sad song, but that doesn't mean that the music can't be a little more upbeat. I've heard the original, and to be honest, i almost fell asleep.

  54. b.... ....

    It sounds like the clarks are a good group. The singer is good and the baand is tight BUT their version of this song mangles the meaning of this beyond all belief. I swear it sounds like a clueless Bobby Darin swinging the song with his fingers snapping and everything. I would only ask that the Clarks READ the lyrics of the song they are covering befor they give it such a grossly inappropriate treatment..

  55. M.... M....

    Never really been a fan of Bruce, the clarks are absolutely amazing- and they def sing it better:)

  56. R.... S....

    Rarely is a song better thant he original, but i have always thought their version Blew the Boss' out of the water...err the river. Yeah i just made a lame joke lol.

  57. M.... D....

    reminds me of home i need to get back there . western pa

  58. K.... K....

    it just kicks ass..plain & simple..they need to play up here in MASS..@ the Calvin Theater, Iron Horse or Mt. Park

  59. k.... ....

    Only seems fitting that a band from Pittsburgh, could re-make a classic like "The River" and make it there very own. Sorry Bruce but they do it better, must be the MonValley in their voices that makes the song ring so true.

  60. M.... M....

    Bruce who...? Haha, this is so much better then Springsteens shitty version, keep on rockin' guys! \m/

  61. e.... m....

    I grew up in Johnstown, PA ... well Richland but this song is amazing. I love the clarks they're great <3

  62. a.... ....

    Going to see the clarks play erie tonight. Western PA represent

  63. M.... ....

    @FreeBirdStone Im a wheeling, Wv coal miner and i know how you guys got it! this song is it aint it??

  64. t.... ....

    I was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania but moved to Louisiana 2 years ago. My dad was a steelworker and the he raised me to never forget where I'm from, that shitty little town made me who I am now. I'm 18 now and I would give just about anything to see the clarks in my hometown one more time.

  65. A.... R....

    awesome song. love the Clarks. and ive come to the conclusion mostly every single person commenting on this video is from western pa. including me.

  66. 7.... ....

    too bad they can`t win more than one game in a row

  67. 7.... ....

    this song isn`t about Johnston , Pa. ,,,, the name Johnston Company is from where Bruce grew up in Jersey

  68. Z.... C....

    this version is way better than bruce's i think lol thats just me

  69. M.... S....

    Great cover! So happy I found this band. I live on the other side of the world, but if you simply change the name of the girl and the town, the song could just as well apply to my hometown.

  70. j.... ....

    Killer cover. What else would you expect from this band? Gawddam ...

  71. L.... S....

    all four of these boys all went to IUP where I go to school. IUP is where it all started for these guys

  72. T.... K....

    bruce who ?

  73. w.... ....

    sorry to tell you people but Scott is not from pittsburgh he is from connellsville pa. thats where i live. i used to deliver pizza to his dad all the time. nice people

  74. l.... ....

    i like this version better then springsteen's :)

  75. C.... ....

    pittsburgh my hometown and yours we school all y'inz in music thumbs up for the 'burgh

  76. b.... c....

    @friendofdar this song is western pa

  77. G.... B....

    I can really feel this song cause I have lived it .(I was born in Monongahela hospital ) . I know they have lived it too. A great tribute to Bruce , but shackling a better recording than the Boss.

  78. R.... ....

    this song was written about me

  79. S.... V....

    i use to live in good ole J-town lol now im back at somerset :(

  80. S.... ....

    Yup, sounds just like Mon Valley in the song, I live pretty close to there.

  81. M.... ....

    haha i do to but i still smack on it! Why? Cuz it's Johnstown :-P The flood was the best thing ever, too bad it didn't take out Charles too!!!

    (Tho not meant to play light on a tragedy, in all truth it was a horrible thing that happened, and a senseless loss of life due to greed.)

  82. p.... p....

    Johnstown is about a half hour from me. Why all the smack on it?

  83. p.... p....

    great cover. Can't beat the boss, his song writing incredible.

  84. S.... A....

    Love it<3

  85. s.... ....

    Just saw them 9/16 in Altoona just as good as ever. I could give two shits about the Johnstown part. It's just a really great song. Much better than the original!

  86. l.... ....

    yes it a goddamn godd cover

  87. S.... V....

    i just seen them like an hour ago for the first time and they playd this song as soon as the came out omfg i went nuts and stayd nuts the hole time for like for like 3 hours lmao

  88. S.... V....

    i meant to say it's gonna be awesome..lmao talkin to my girl in texas she's not gonna be able to see the clarks rofl

  89. S.... V....

    I already got my ticket to see them on july 11 in somerset i'm not it's gonna be awesome

  90. J.... W....

    I just saw them on the 13th, they were amazing and played this song

  91. r.... g....

    omg i love this song

  92. S.... ....

    The ......ONLY reason????????

  93. d.... ....

    i saw the clarks when they first started. They led off for Donnie Iris at IUP. They got booed so bad that donnie had to come out and play with them so they could finish their 3 songs.Everyone was chanting "donnie! donnie!" during their songs so loud that you couldn't even hear them play. I felt really bad for them . I thought they sounded pretty good. It's nice to see them grow up and become successful. It was also nice to see iris come out and try to help them out.

  94. j.... ....

    I went to the Steelers pep rally in Pittsburgh on Jan.23rd and they played this song live.

  95. S.... ....

    try...Thin Lizzy?Not as BEST BAND EVER but sliiiiightly BETTER? :)

  96. S.... ....

    wowowowo mister.........they might be good but...not best band ever!

  97. D.... ....

    Brucey's version in NY is perfect.

    This version is good, but nowhere near Bruce standard.

  98. C.... H....

    Pittsburgh born and raised, and this song being sung by this group is very fitting.

  99. M.... R....

    great begoddamn song....down the resevoir......:) :)

    reminds me of a simpler time...