Moody River

"Moody River" is a song released in May 1961, which was performed by Pat Boone. It reached number-one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart the following month.[1] It was written by and originally performed by country rockabilly singer Chase Webster (real name Gary Daniel Bruce, not to be confused with Gary Bruce of the Knack). Webster was a labelmate of Boone's at Dot Records.

"Moody River"
Moody River by Pat Boone
Single by Pat Boone
from the album Moody River
B-side"A Thousand Years"
ReleasedMay 1961
Format45 rpm
GenreCountry pop
Length2:41
LabelDot
Songwriter(s)Gary D. Bruce
Producer(s)Randy Wood
Audio sample
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This was the title track from one of Boone's better-selling albums. Boone sang this song as if he were in pain. It was covered some years later by Johnny Burnette in 1962, also Frank Sinatra and Johnny Rivers. In August 2009, John Fogerty covered the song in the album entitled The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again.

Plot

The song tells the story of a man who goes to meet his love at the river, by the old oak tree, and finds that she has committed suicide. A note on the riverbank explains that she has cheated on him and that "No longer can I live with this hurt and this sin. I just couldn't tell you that guy was just a friend." He then looks into the river and sees his own reflection on the river looking back, ever hauntingly, at him. He is the "lonely, lonely face just lookin' back at me". So with "Tears in his eyes, and a prayer on his lips, and the glove of his lost love, at his fingertips".

Chart performance
Chart (1961) Peak
position
Canada (CHUM Hit Parade)[2] 1
New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade)[3] 1
U.K. Singles charts 18
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[4] 1
U.S. Adult Contemporany 4

See also
  • List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1961 (U.S.)

References
  1. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  2. CHUM Tribute Charts, June 26, 1961
  3. Flavour of New Zealand, 20 July 1961
  4. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X


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