I played this for my Dad when he was visiting. My dad had always been supportive of my creative work, and I suspect, was proud of me. But when he heard this song, his eyes lit up and his face glowed. "Drop everything else and focus on this!" He loved this tune. I only wish he'd heard me sing it with the incredible choir which is, believe it or not, one vocalist - Lynn Moffatt and the engineering wizardry of Ray Montford.
lyrics
Down To the River
Music and Lyrics by Jim Love
Let me take you, down to the river
Lead me gently by the hand...
Hold me tight – cold water rushes over
Filling me with understanding...
I have been a prophet in the desert, I have felt the burning sun
I have walked a million tired footsteps, that took me back where I'd begun
Freezing cold standing in the darkness, starlight blazing in my eyes
I have heard, the choirs of the angels, singing in the star-filled skies,
they sang…
Let me take you, down to the river
Lead me gently by the hand...
Hold me tight – cold water rushes over
Filling me with understanding...
Forty days, and forty lonely night times, with just my hunger as my friend...
I have felt the power of temptation, and I have seen the very ending ... (of my life)
Let me take you, down to the river
Lead me gently by the hand...
Hold me tight – cold water rushes over
Filling me with understanding...
Here I stand, I’m looking at the river, there's a man down by the shore I look up, his eyes lock into mine, my life is changed forever more, when he says Let me take you, down to the river, Lead me gently by the hand... Hold me tight – as the water rushes over
Filling me with understanding...
Filling me with understanding
Filling me….
credits
from Last Man Standing,
track released April 1, 2022
Featuring the Dobro magic of Rick Fines
Lynn Moffatt is the choir
Ray Montford on guitar
I wrote my first song when I was about 14 with the line "write me, box nothing, Trans Canada Highway". A few months later,
I ran away to Vancouver. The songs never stopped.
In my 20's a Juno nomination and gold album as a writer for a kid's band. A couple of musicals live and on CBC and a series of songs.
After 40 years I'm back with some of my best songs. Never too late....more