- Album This song officially appears on the C'Mon People EP.
Related sessions
This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions
December 1991 - July 1992
September - October 1992
Other B-Sides from "Off The Ground" singles
Officially appears on Hope Of Deliverance
Officially appears on Hope Of Deliverance
Officially appears on C'Mon People / I Can't Imagine
Officially appears on Hope Of Deliverance
Officially appears on C'Mon People
Officially appears on Off the Ground
Officially appears on Off The Ground
Officially appears on Off the Ground
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Song facts
“Down To The River” is a folk-country song recorded during the sessions for 1993 album “Off The Ground“, released as a B-Side on the “C’Mon People” single. Before being recorded in the studio, it had been performed live during the Unplugged 1991 Summer tour.
Apparently written by Paul over a recent morning’s muesli, [Down to the River is] a catchy skiffle-style romp about “going down to where the waters flow”, marked by a true McCartney concert first – mouth-organ playing. Not for him, though, the Dylan-style neck appendage to keep the instrument in place, instead it was the duty of special assistant John Hammel to join Paul centre-stage and physically hold the harmonica adjacent to the microphone.
From Club Sandwich 59, Autumn 1991, about concert in St Austell
Last updated on June 18, 2019
Lyrics
Now take me down to the river
baby take me down to the river
you can take me down to the river
where the waters flow oh yeah.
Down to the river
can you take me down to the river
baby take me down to the river
where the waters flow.
Yeah well I know
Yeah I know
well I know
I know I wanna go.
Now down to the river
you can take me down to the river
you can take me down to the river
where the waters flow
flow down down down.
oh yeah taking me taking me
down to the river
oh down down down
down down yeah
down to the river
where the waters flow.
down take me down.
take me now.
down down down down
taking me down to the river
down to the river
will you take me down to the river
where the waters flow.
take me down yeah!
yeah yeah well I know
ah well I know
well I know
I know I wanna go.
yeah take me down to the river
you can take me down to the river
can you take me down to the river
where the waters flow.
Officially appears on
EP • Released in 1993
3:35 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Harmonica, Lead vocal, Producer
- Linda McCartney :
- Tambourine
- Robbie McIntosh :
- Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar
- Hamish Stuart :
- Backing vocals, Bass
- Paul Wickens :
- Accordion
- Blair Cunningham :
- Drums
- Julian Mendelsohn :
- Producer
- Bob Kraushaar :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- December 1991 - July 1992
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Mixing:
- September - October 1992
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Off the Ground - The Complete Works
Official album • Released in 1993
3:31 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Harmonica, Lead vocal, Producer
- Linda McCartney :
- Tambourine
- Robbie McIntosh :
- Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar
- Hamish Stuart :
- Backing vocals, Bass
- Paul Wickens :
- Accordion
- Blair Cunningham :
- Drums
- Julian Mendelsohn :
- Producer
- Bob Kraushaar :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- December 1991 - July 1992
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Mixing:
- September - October 1992
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Bootlegs
Unofficial live
4:43 • Live
Concert From the concert in Copenhagen, Denmark on Jul 24, 1991
Unofficial live
3:41 • Live
Concert From the concert in Westcliff-on-Sea, United Kingdom on Jul 19, 1991
Rehearsals For The New World Tour 1993
Unofficial live
3:35 • Live
Concert From the concert in Westcliff-on-Sea, United Kingdom on Jul 19, 1991
Unofficial live • Released in 1992
4:50 • Live
Concert From the concert in Copenhagen, Denmark on Jul 24, 1991
Unofficial album • Released in 2000
3:31 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Harmonica, Lead vocal, Producer
- Linda McCartney :
- Tambourine
- Robbie McIntosh :
- Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar
- Hamish Stuart :
- Backing vocals, Bass
- Paul Wickens :
- Accordion
- Blair Cunningham :
- Drums
- Julian Mendelsohn :
- Producer
- Bob Kraushaar :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- December 1991 - July 1992
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Mixing:
- September - October 1992
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Live performances
“Down To The River” has been played in 5 concerts.
Latest concerts where Down To The River has been played
Jan 01, 1993 • United Kingdom • Harlesden • The Mean Fiddler • TV show
Copenhagen • Falkoner Theatre • Denmark
Jul 24, 1991 • Part of Unplugged 1991 Summer Tour
Westcliff-on-Sea • Cliffs Pavilion • United Kingdom
Jul 19, 1991 • Part of Unplugged 1991 Summer Tour
St Austell • Cornwall Coliseum • United Kingdom
Jun 07, 1991 • Part of Unplugged 1991 Summer Tour
Naples • Teatro Palapartenope • Italy
Jun 05, 1991 • Part of Unplugged 1991 Summer Tour
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