Down To The River (song)

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Album This song officially appears on the C'Mon People EP.

Timeline This song has been officially released in 1993

Down in Memphis

Dr. Pepper

Master release

Off The Ground

By Paul McCartney

Related sessions

This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions

"Off The Ground" sessions #1

December 1991 - July 1992

Off The Ground sessions #2

September - October 1992

Other B-Sides from "Off The Ground" singles

Long Leather Coat

Officially appears on Hope Of Deliverance

Big Boys Bickering

Officially appears on Hope Of Deliverance

I Can't Imagine

Officially appears on C'Mon People / I Can't Imagine

Kicked Around No More

Officially appears on Hope Of Deliverance

Keep Coming Back To Love

Officially appears on C'Mon People

Sweet Sweet Memories

Officially appears on Off the Ground

Cosmically Conscious

Officially appears on Off The Ground

Style Style

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

C'Mon People

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

Codename Falconer

Unofficial live

4:43 • Live

Concert From the concert in Copenhagen, Denmark on Jul 24, 1991

Southend Surprise

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

What A Mean Fiddler

Unofficial live • Released in 1992

4:50 • Live

Concert From the concert in Copenhagen, Denmark on Jul 24, 1991

B-Sides Complete Vol. 3

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

See all bootlegs containing “Down To The River”

Live performances

“Down To The River” has been played in 5 concerts.

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