Garth Brooks – The River #musicaware

Follow Garth Brookson Bandsintown

“The River”

You know a dream is like a river
Ever changin’ as it flows
And a dreamer’s just a vessel
That must follow where it goes
Trying to learn from what’s behind you
And never knowing what’s in store
Makes each day a constant battle
Just to stay between the shores…and

I will sail my vessel
‘Til the river runs dry
Like a bird upon the wind
These waters are my sky
I’ll never reach my destination
If I never try
So I will sail my vessel
‘Til the river runs dry

Too many times we stand aside
And let the waters slip away
‘Til what we put off ’til tomorrow
Has now become today
So don’t you sit upon the shoreline
And say you’re satisfied
Choose to chance the rapids
And dare to dance the tide…yes

I will sail my vessel
‘Til the river runs dry
Like a bird upon the wind
These waters are my sky
I’ll never reach my destination
If I never try
So I will sail my vessel
‘Til the river runs dry

There’s bound to be rough waters
And I know I’ll take some falls
But with the good Lord as my captain
I can make it through them all…yes

I will sail my vessel
‘Til the river runs dry
Like a bird upon the wind
These waters are my sky
I’ll never reach my destination
If I never try
So I will sail my vessel
‘Til the river runs dry

Yes, I will sail my vessel
‘Til the river runs dry
‘Til the river runs dry

Submit Corrections

Follow Garth Brookson Bandsintown

Writer(s): Garth Brooks, Victoria Shaw

This song was released in April 1992 as the fifth and final single from the album. It became his ninth number-one hit on the Billboard country charts in late 1992.

According to Garth Brooks, James Taylor—his childhood hero—was an inspiration for writing “The River”. Victoria Shaw recalled, “We were blank, so blank. And so finally, he said, ‘You know what? Let’s just take a break. What are you listening to on the stereo?’ And I had just bought this new James Taylor CD, so I put it on and were just listening to it, and it got us in a mood.”

Garth Brooks wrote about this song in the liner notes of his album “The Hits”, “It is a song of inspiration… a song that I will be proud of a hundred years from now. Victoria Shaw is a wonderful writer and a wonderful friend. And this is what happens when two dreamers get together and write from the heart.”

This track is also included on three albums that have sold more than ten million copies each in the US: “Ropin’ The Wind”, “The Hits” and “Double Live”.

album: “Ropin’ The Wind” (1991)