River of Love (song)
Encyclopedia
"River of Love" is the title of a country music
song written by Billy Burnette
, Shawn Camp and Dennis Morgan
. It was recorded by George Strait
on his 2008 album Troubadour
, from which it was released in November 2008 as that album's third single. The 87th single of his career, it is also his 80th Top Ten on the Billboard
country charts, as well as his 44th Number One.
, ukulele
and pedal steel guitar
accompaniment. Shawn Camp, Billy Burnette and Dennis Morgan, who wrote the song, all sing backing vocals on it as well. The lyrics use a river as a metaphor
for love ("Let's go rollin' on the river of love").
According to Country Weekly
, Morgan had come to Camp with a melody in his head. Camp then built on the melody by playing along with a ukulele
that Cowboy Jack Clement had given him, when Burnette joined in on his own ukulele, and they came up with the line "river of love". According to Camp, "It was just such an infectious groove, and it just kind of rolled out. The whole song was just two chords
and that lick."
song, calling it one of the weakest tracks on the album.
Hot Country Songs
charts dated for the week of November 22, 2008. The song became Strait's 44th Billboard Number One on the chart week of April 18, 2009. One week later, it fell to #9, taking the biggest fall from #1 on that chart since Carrie Underwood
's "So Small
" fell from #1 to #10 on the chart week of December 22, 2007.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
song written by Billy Burnette
Billy Burnette
William Beau "Billy" Burnette III is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter who was part of the band Fleetwood Mac from 1987 to 1995. Burnette also had a brief career in acting.-Family background:...
, Shawn Camp and Dennis Morgan
Dennis Morgan (songwriter)
Dennis Morgan is a songwriter and music publisher, best known for writing songs for Aretha Franklin, Faith Hill, Barbara Mandrell, and Eric Clapton. He has also published hit songs by Garth Brooks, All-4-One, Feargal Sharkey, and Trisha Yearwood.Morgan's career as a songwriter started as a session...
. It was recorded by George Strait
George Strait
George Harvey Strait is an American country music singer, actor, and music producer. Strait is referred to as the "King of Country," and critics call Strait a living legend. He is known for his unique style of western swing music, bar-room ballads, honky-tonk style, and fresh yet traditional...
on his 2008 album Troubadour
Troubadour (George Strait album)
Troubadour is the title of the 25th studio album by American country music singer George Strait. It was released on April 1, 2008 on MCA Nashville Records. The album comprises twelve tracks, including two duets...
, from which it was released in November 2008 as that album's third single. The 87th single of his career, it is also his 80th Top Ten on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
country charts, as well as his 44th Number One.
Content
"River of Love" is a moderate up-tempo, with steel-string acoustic guitarSteel-string acoustic guitar
A steel-string acoustic guitar is a modern form of guitar descended from the classical guitar, but strung with steel strings for a brighter, louder sound...
, ukulele
Ukulele
The ukulele, ; from ; it is a subset of the guitar family of instruments, generally with four nylon or gut strings or four courses of strings....
and pedal steel guitar
Pedal steel guitar
The pedal steel guitar is a type of electric guitar that uses a metal bar to "fret" or shorten the length of the strings, rather than fingers on strings as with a conventional guitar. Unlike other types of steel guitar, it also uses pedals and knee levers to affect the pitch, hence the name "pedal"...
accompaniment. Shawn Camp, Billy Burnette and Dennis Morgan, who wrote the song, all sing backing vocals on it as well. The lyrics use a river as a metaphor
Metaphor
A metaphor is a literary figure of speech that uses an image, story or tangible thing to represent a less tangible thing or some intangible quality or idea; e.g., "Her eyes were glistening jewels." Metaphor may also be used for any rhetorical figures of speech that achieve their effects via...
for love ("Let's go rollin' on the river of love").
According to Country Weekly
Country Weekly
Country Weekly is an American tabloid style weekly magazine established in 1994. The magazine focuses on country music stars and events, and regularly features exclusive interviews with recording artists and country music news...
, Morgan had come to Camp with a melody in his head. Camp then built on the melody by playing along with a ukulele
Ukulele
The ukulele, ; from ; it is a subset of the guitar family of instruments, generally with four nylon or gut strings or four courses of strings....
that Cowboy Jack Clement had given him, when Burnette joined in on his own ukulele, and they came up with the line "river of love". According to Camp, "It was just such an infectious groove, and it just kind of rolled out. The whole song was just two chords
Chord (music)
A chord in music is any harmonic set of two–three or more notes that is heard as if sounding simultaneously. These need not actually be played together: arpeggios and broken chords may for many practical and theoretical purposes be understood as chords...
and that lick."
Reception
Matt Bjorke of Roughstock, a country music review site, gave "River of Love" a mixed review. Although he called it an "undoubtedly fun song" and said "it's all about feel and groove", he added that "there's nothing really interesting about the song, other than the spirited steel guitar solo." Brady Vercher, in his review of Troubadour for The 9513, described the song as having an "island vibe" similar to a Kenny ChesneyKenny Chesney
Kenneth "Kenny" Arnold Chesney is an American country music singer and songwriter. Chesney has recorded 15 albums, 14 of which have been certified gold or higher by the RIAA. He has also produced more than 30 Top Ten singles on the U.S...
song, calling it one of the weakest tracks on the album.
Chart performance
"River of Love" debuted at #45 on the BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
charts dated for the week of November 22, 2008. The song became Strait's 44th Billboard Number One on the chart week of April 18, 2009. One week later, it fell to #9, taking the biggest fall from #1 on that chart since Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood
Carrie Marie Underwood is an American country singer-songwriter and actress who rose to fame as the winner of the fourth season of American Idol, in 2005...
's "So Small
So Small
"So Small" is a song composed by fourth-season American Idol winner and country pop singer Carrie Underwood, Hillary Lindsey and Luke Laird. It is the first single from Underwood's second studio album, Carnival Ride, released in Canada on August 14, 2007, and in the United States on August 28, 2007...
" fell from #1 to #10 on the chart week of December 22, 2007.
| Chart (2008–2009) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 59 |
| Canadian Hot 100 | 77 |