This song is special for me, it was posted on facebook in memory of my son who had been murdered a few days before. He was Roland Salvatore, he lived in and walked through the Gila Wilderness for 10 years. He left so much poetry. He was a musician , played djembe drums amazingly. He was 35 yrs old. This is a good cover, my tablet doesn't play any Nick Drake songs, maybe that's better for me. It's been three years and I don't know how to live anymore.
I'm sorry for your loss. Hope this version of River Man brings you a measure of comfort. If your son liked Nick Drake, I'm sure he'd appreciate Patricia O'Callaghan doing it justice. ~wishing you peace.
Gila in New Mexico. Sorry to hear about Roland. I hope you have now been able to come to terms with this shocking tragedy, as far as you, or anyone, can, though it's nearly impossible, of course. Stay strong.
This version of River Man haunts me in ways the original did not, nor subsequent fine cover versions. I have a place on a beautiful river. I can't hear this song, this interpretation, and not imagine myself on the river on a clear, quiet summer evening.
WOW! Smooth as Silk! So beautifully meaningful, it's sublime. Each member of the trio along with Ms. O'Callaghan's voice is phenomenal. The arrangement is top-notch musicianship. I keep hearing it in my head, it's hauntingly beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing.
What a hidden gem! The arrangement and vocals are like a bouquet of spices that help the beauty of the original composition emerge in a truly moving fashion. Thank you so much!
Gryfon Trio I heard your excellent version and had to subscribe. That woman's voice is ephemeral and the piano, cello, violin, and any other musicians I left out--each one of you is important! You make this song so rich!
It's so nice to realise that Nick's work is still revered all these years after his death. Lots of versions of this song exist but this one is right up there. It's stunning. Thank you so much for posting this.
Oh God this is such a classy tribute. Her voice is crystal. The arrangement is excellent. The musicianship is absolutely top notch! Thanks for sharing.
Very nice. I first heard Andy Bey do this song on KKJZ over 10 years ago. A zillion covers now including ones by Sara Gazarek and Kurt Elling - but this might be my favorite...
The lyrics leave me with so many questions which I enjoy. I really like this. River Man will likely endure for eons. Seems to welcome artists to indulge.
I listen to this often and it is one of the best Nick Drake Covers. The discordant piano set with the flowing strings and voice of Ms Callahan suggests Nick Drakes struggle for peace .Although the river flows it does so in 5/4 time giving the feeling of restless motion.The River Man perhaps is his therapist or a trusted individual trying to guide him out of his depression and the Piano sounds are those negative thoughts pulling him towards darkness.Beautifully done as are the excellent classical videos.
Absolutely beautiful! Perhaps Nick's soul was mystically-magically connected to this performance. If so, I'm sure Patricia O'Callaghan's contribution especially made him smile. Loved the harmonic dissonance, perhaps symbolic of Nick's cognitive dissonance. Betty said she prayed today For the sky to blow away Or maybe stay She wasn't sure. Personally, I think Betty is Nick. The Riverman? I think The Riverman is God, the Mysterious Eternal Light.
The Gryphon Trio are highly acclaimed classical musicians from Toronto who have won two JUNO awards. Their recorded work and live performances are well enjoyed by many, and worth looking up; in particular their cd 'Great Piano Trios' from 2011. Patricia O'Callagan's beautiful soprano does justice to this cover of Nick Drake's 'River Man'. This song is on the 2011 collaboration album by Patricia O'Callaghan & the Gryphon Trio called Broken Hearts & Madmen, which features songs by Nick Drake, Leonard Cohen, Lhasa de Sela and Elvis Costello alongside Latin American folksongs from Mexico, Argentina and Brazil.
Remarkable cover. It stays faithful to the original but the difference in singer and small differences in the sound quality make this more dream like and less closed in than Drake's version. The backing doesn't add anything different to the original, but the way it is mixed you hear more separation between the instruments and it has a more lush sound. And Ms. O'Callaghan's voice is likewise more clear and sits above the backing a little more. With those two things at work you can listen to the lyrics and get a somewhat different feel for the meaning of the song. I wouldn't change a thing about Drake's version or this cover but they are both outstanding. Listening to the backing reminds me of the great movie instrumentals of the 50s and 60s by people like Henry Mancini, Percy Faith, and Jackie Gleason's orchestra. One of the finest pieces of recorded music I've heard in quite some time.
This is faithful to the original in an interesting way. On Nick's tracks, there are counter melodies and sometimes discordant counter keys. On first hearing of this, the piano made no sense, but on second listen, I see where it's coming from. With Nicks music, the guitar powers it all along with the discordant, stuff subtly colouring the overall sound, where here, it's recorded pristine so it stands out a bit more. The singer is beautiful, not as bluesy as Nick but she has her own great qualities. I longed to hear her voice and the plucked strings for a bit longer before the other parts came in. She was carrying it. No one is ever going to do Nick better than Nick, but this is a fantastic cover/version/homage. Brave too, not an easy task tackling Nicks work I should think. Bloody hell Nick, why did you leave us so early.....
It's a great song that was most pleasurable to arrange. As they were Classical Musicians , every note had to be written out and this video was made in the studio by the photographer of one of the takes. Some sync problems because there was no other material but pretty good for a guerrilla video
Yes, very good, can listen to it straight aftter the writer's version, fine references to original Harry Robinson but never deriviative, well-thought-out piano part, top notch, have a cigar.
Betty came by on her way Said she had a word to say About things today And fallen leaves. Said she hadn't heard the news Hadn't had the time to choose A way to lose But she believes. Going to see the river man Going to tell him all I can About the plan For lilac time. If he tells me all he knows About the way his river flows And all night shows In summertime. Betty said she prayed today For the sky to blow away Or maybe stay She wasn't sure. For when she thought of summer rain Calling for her mind again She lost the pain And stayed for more. Going to see the river man Going to tell him all I can About the ban On feeling free. If he tells me all he knows About the way his river flows I don't suppose It's meant for me. Oh, how they come and go Oh, how they come and go.
Patricia O'Callaghan (44) is a classically trained Canadian soprano. While an exchange student in Mexico years ago, she decided that rather than choosing between becoming a 'Rock Star' or a 'nun', she would combine both and become an opera singer. She's well known for her rendition of Leonard Cohen's “Hallelujah” which she recorded in 1999. ;-)
Its too busy. Listen to Nick Drake, Kurt Elling or, my favorite, Andy Bey. This tune is beautiful and doesn't require a whole lot of window dressing. It gets in the way.
Good job, although I think you would have been better off covering "way to blue" off the same Album (five leaves left) the style in which you covered this would perhaps have been better suited.
This song is stuck in my head for a few years now.
This song is special for me, it was posted on facebook in memory of my son who had been murdered a few days before. He was Roland Salvatore, he lived in and walked through the Gila Wilderness for 10 years. He left so much poetry. He was a musician , played djembe drums amazingly. He was 35 yrs old. This is a good cover, my tablet doesn't play any Nick Drake songs, maybe that's better for me. It's been three years and I don't know how to live anymore.
I'm sorry for your loss. Hope this version of River Man brings you a measure of comfort. If your son liked Nick Drake, I'm sure he'd appreciate Patricia O'Callaghan doing it justice. ~wishing you peace.
so sad about your son please believe there is beauty in this world this song reminds me let it remind you of your son dont forget the beauty
So sorry for your loss. May his soul be at rest and may you know no more sorry.
Gila in New Mexico. Sorry to hear about Roland. I hope you have now been able to come to terms with this shocking tragedy, as far as you, or anyone, can, though it's nearly impossible, of course. Stay strong.
Sorry for your loss. Just breathe...
At first I was like "damn, a cover video." Then the vocals hit before I could switch and I thought "actually this is pretty awesome"
This version of River Man haunts me in ways the original did not, nor subsequent fine cover versions.
I have a place on a beautiful river. I can't hear this song, this interpretation, and not imagine myself on the river on a clear, quiet summer evening.
WOW! Smooth as Silk! So beautifully meaningful, it's sublime. Each member of the trio along with Ms. O'Callaghan's voice is phenomenal. The arrangement is top-notch musicianship. I keep hearing it in my head, it's hauntingly beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing.
Lovely tribute for those who feel ND deep into their hearts.Thank you so much.
Stunning interpretation of a classic song.
Been surfing Nick Drake covers, for what reason I don't know. More of the strange magic that can happen sometimes. Haunting, beautiful and unique!
I'm right there with you, An obsession I can understand. Just a beautiful sadness that is ND.
Me too. I think someone who covers this good may produce also other wonderful music
Ms O'Callaghan's is one of the best renditions of Mr Nick Drake's immortal emblematic theme RIVER MAN
What a hidden gem! The arrangement and vocals are like a bouquet of spices that help the beauty of the original composition emerge in a truly moving fashion. Thank you so much!
its hard to believe but this is beautiful asthe origanal with its own uniqueness
I love Nick Drake ever since 2009 i have not stopped listening to his music.
Gryfon Trio I heard your excellent version and had to subscribe. That woman's voice is ephemeral and the piano, cello, violin, and any other musicians I left out--each one of you is important! You make this song so rich!
Just beautiful. Everything about this song is done perfectly. Thank you!
What a beautiful voice, great cover version of this song
this song makes me cry, as usuall. Thanks!
Was searching for nick and came across this beautiful version. Thank you
Wow! Beautiful cover of this Nick Drake gem . Thank you , Patricia and the trio.
This is absolutely beautiful. Thank you.
It's so nice to realise that Nick's work is still revered all these years after his death. Lots of versions of this song exist but this one is right up there. It's stunning. Thank you so much for posting this.
what a beutifall voice Patricia a perfect cover i enjoy it very much.
such a beautiful rendition. no words !
Oh God this is such a classy tribute. Her voice is crystal.
The arrangement is excellent. The musicianship is absolutely top notch! Thanks for sharing.
The piano arrangement is phenomenal.
Very nice. I first heard Andy Bey do this song on KKJZ over 10 years ago. A zillion covers now including ones by Sara Gazarek and Kurt Elling - but this might be my favorite...
Love the original very much, I never knew Nick Drake, until I discovered Lizz Wright's superb cover of Riverman. I like this cover too.
Rene Feijen thanks! I'm going to check out Wright's version.
Pure beauty
Quelle voix, ça fait un bien fou 💙
what great artistry
This is a wonderful rendition. Love it great job. Wow!
A beautiful tribute to Drake's genius. Wish he might have lived longer.
So well done, it's a delight
Lovely arrangements...really enjoyed this take on a brilliant song.
Preciosa versión, Gracias!
The lyrics leave me with so many questions which I enjoy. I really like this. River Man will likely endure for eons. Seems to welcome artists to indulge.
just lovely.
This is beautiful.
I listen to this often and it is one of the best Nick Drake Covers. The discordant piano set with the flowing strings and voice of Ms Callahan suggests Nick Drakes struggle for peace .Although the river flows it does so in 5/4 time giving the feeling of restless motion.The River Man perhaps is his therapist or a trusted individual trying to guide him out of his depression and the Piano sounds are those negative thoughts pulling him towards darkness.Beautifully done as are the excellent classical videos.
piano sounds are pulling him out to sea (floating on a river out to sea)...
GORGEOUS ABSOLUTELY PERFECT LUSH COVER!!
So so lovely, both the music and the video! So happy I got to hear the song live twice last weekend! Congratulations team!
A beautiful, beautiful gift.
Received and stored with gentle thanks dear friend.
This is gorgeous! A lovely cover! :)
*****:)
Beautiful version !
Wow...love the felale version....GREAT!
beautiful!!!
Absolutely beautiful! Perhaps Nick's soul was mystically-magically connected to this performance. If so, I'm sure Patricia O'Callaghan's contribution especially made him smile. Loved the harmonic dissonance, perhaps symbolic of Nick's cognitive dissonance.
Betty said she prayed today
For the sky to blow away
Or maybe stay
She wasn't sure.
Personally, I think Betty is Nick.
The Riverman? I think The Riverman is God, the Mysterious Eternal Light.
caught the emotion-for that you get an A+ in my books...I love it-
Lovely rendition of a Drake classic!
Lovely, lovely.
Splendid!
Amazing!!!!!!!!!!
The Gryphon Trio are highly acclaimed classical musicians from Toronto who have won two JUNO awards. Their recorded work and live performances are well enjoyed by many, and worth looking up; in particular their cd 'Great Piano Trios' from 2011. Patricia O'Callagan's beautiful soprano does justice to this cover of Nick Drake's 'River Man'. This song is on the 2011 collaboration album by Patricia O'Callaghan & the Gryphon Trio called Broken Hearts & Madmen, which features songs by Nick Drake, Leonard Cohen, Lhasa de Sela and Elvis Costello alongside Latin American folksongs from Mexico, Argentina and Brazil.
Remarkable cover. It stays faithful to the original but the difference in singer and small differences in the sound quality make this more dream like and less closed in than Drake's version. The backing doesn't add anything different to the original, but the way it is mixed you hear more separation between the instruments and it has a more lush sound. And Ms. O'Callaghan's voice is likewise more clear and sits above the backing a little more. With those two things at work you can listen to the lyrics and get a somewhat different feel for the meaning of the song. I wouldn't change a thing about Drake's version or this cover but they are both outstanding. Listening to the backing reminds me of the great movie instrumentals of the 50s and 60s by people like Henry Mancini, Percy Faith, and Jackie Gleason's orchestra. One of the finest pieces of recorded music I've heard in quite some time.
This is so good! Subbed.
Marvellous......
This a lovely interpretation of Drake's song. It's more upbeat too.
Wow ❤
Wow!!
Oh, how they come and go!😭
Gorgeous
great job man
Very nice version of a great song. Lee Ritinour has a nice version too (Kurt Elling on vocals).
Amazing
Thank you, Ron. ❤
очень очень круто!
As said before nothing could equal the original. Beautiful and very cool nevertheless
This is faithful to the original in an interesting way. On Nick's tracks, there are counter melodies and sometimes discordant counter keys. On first hearing of this, the piano made no sense, but on second listen, I see where it's coming from. With Nicks music, the guitar powers it all along with the discordant, stuff subtly colouring the overall sound, where here, it's recorded pristine so it stands out a bit more. The singer is beautiful, not as bluesy as Nick but she has her own great qualities. I longed to hear her voice and the plucked strings for a bit longer before the other parts came in. She was carrying it.
No one is ever going to do Nick better than Nick, but this is a fantastic cover/version/homage. Brave too, not an easy task tackling Nicks work I should think.
Bloody hell Nick, why did you leave us so early.....
thanks sony
ND would have loved this, I'm sure!
For when she called the summer rain callin for her mind again. She lost the pain.101218
How beautiful is that?
you sound like my mother.xx just like her when she sings xx beautiful
patricia s voice great
would like to hear in another orchestral arrangement
here we don t know whether its jazzy or classic arrang....
First couple of lines, it's like you can hear every molecule of air passing over her vocal chords
It's a great song that was most pleasurable to arrange. As they were Classical Musicians , every note had to be written out and this video was made in the studio by the photographer of one of the takes. Some sync problems because there was no other material but pretty good for a guerrilla video
Amazing song. I think it was Nick's tribute to Delius.
Nice job
The Title Is Deceiving.
beautiful interpretation of a beautiful song
Just stumbled on this vid; great song, lovely voice.
beautifal
A great Lee Ritenour original
Yes, very good, can listen to it straight aftter the writer's version, fine references to original Harry Robinson but never deriviative, well-thought-out piano part, top notch, have a cigar.
for when she saw the summer rain calling for her mind again....
bravo
où puis trouver la partition en sol?
Who ever could...
Nice
Gorgeous voice. Who s she? Great composition.
Patricia O'Callaghan
Betty came by on her way
Said she had a word to say
About things today
And fallen leaves.
Said she hadn't heard the news
Hadn't had the time to choose
A way to lose
But she believes.
Going to see the river man
Going to tell him all I can
About the plan
For lilac time.
If he tells me all he knows
About the way his river flows
And all night shows
In summertime.
Betty said she prayed today
For the sky to blow away
Or maybe stay
She wasn't sure.
For when she thought of summer rain
Calling for her mind again
She lost the pain
And stayed for more.
Going to see the river man
Going to tell him all I can
About the ban
On feeling free.
If he tells me all he knows
About the way his river flows
I don't suppose
It's meant for me.
Oh, how they come and go
Oh, how they come and go.
TheGarabella cool! Lilacs and ban on feeling free it makes sense now a bit more. Delilah time and about the band I've heard all these years!
Great! Who's the vocalist? Amazing voice!!
It tells you in the description -_-
Glenuig piss off
Patricia O'Callaghan (44) is a classically trained Canadian soprano. While an exchange student in Mexico years ago, she decided that rather than choosing between becoming a 'Rock Star' or a 'nun', she would combine both and become an opera singer. She's well known for her rendition of Leonard Cohen's “Hallelujah” which she recorded in 1999. ;-)
Good
Its too busy. Listen to Nick Drake, Kurt Elling or, my favorite, Andy Bey. This tune is beautiful and doesn't
require a whole lot of window dressing. It gets in the way.
Lizz wrights cover is pure bliss as well. By far the smoothest Interpretation and insanely well done. It can definitely coexist with the original
disagree.
zu monoton gesungen
Good job, although I think you would have been better off covering "way to blue" off the same Album (five leaves left) the style in which you covered this would perhaps have been better suited.
All covers should be done differently, what's the point otherwise?
Mr. Drake Who is riverman?
Is God, I suppose.
You might find out when the ferryman takes you across the last river.
The mehldau version beats this hands down.....
Except in his version its just an instrumental. And in this instance no lyrics makes for only half a song.
cheese.
the piano is too jazzy for this songs but I love her voice and the cello and violin
A little "scripted" but she has a beautiful voice. Of course the original is it. Regardless pretty awesome.
Shes not Nick Drake .