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Released in 1993

Down To The River

Written by Paul McCartney

Last updated on June 18, 2019

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

Timeline This song was officially released in 1993

Master album

Related sessions

This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:

Other B-Sides from "Off The Ground" singles

“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

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

Bootlegs

See all bootlegs containing “Down To The River”

Live performances

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

Latest concerts where “Down To The River” has been played

Going further

Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 2) 1990-2012

This new book by Luca Perasi traces Paul McCartney's post-Beatles output from 1990 to 2012 in the form of 250 song entries, filled with details about the recordings, stories behind the sessions and musical analysis. His pop albums, his forays into classical and avant-garde music, his penchant for covering old standards: a complete book to discover how these languages cross-pollinate and influence each other.

The second volume in a series that has established itself as a unique guide to take the reader on a journey into the astonishing creativity of Paul McCartney.

Read our exclusive interview with Luca Perasi

Buy on Amazon

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