I Am the River #33

There are so many different starting points to this song and its various versions.
But let's start with this video which was edited and produced by Bill Bruce (Different Video) who has this year (2020) made the journey downstream from the carse of Stirling to the shores and washing lines of Cellardyke.
Back in March 2019 Bill filmed Tom Houston recording the song with Clive Gray at the home of Pam Moncur in Cellardyke. That recording of the song I Am the River went on to feature as the opening track on the George Street Sessions Vol II, which features a diverse range of original songs by artists from around the East Neuk of Fife all recorded by Clive.
This latest version I Am the River #33 was produced by Neill MacColl and follows the spirit of the original recording, with all the musicians recording their parts at home (pre Covid 19). Mary Erskine - aka Me For Queen - sings harmony vocals and plays cello, Kate St John plays piano, Ben Nicholls plays double bass and Mattie Foulds plays drums and also mastered the track, which features on Tom's new 12 track album Gap In The Fence.
We could have started in the mist and clouds that circle the Ochills, or in the wet scree of the ancient Torridon sandstone in Wester Ross, or Tom's grandfather Tom Adam who fished the river Earn with young Tom during the summers in Perthshire. All these helped shape the song and Tom's fascination with the rivers, lochs and seas.
We shall finish with the Whanganui River in New Zealand which is of special and spiritual importance for the Māori, who also refer to it as Te awa tupua. The key line in the song 'I am the river and the river is me' is theirs.
On 30 August 2012 agreement was reached that entitled the Whanganui River to a legal identity, a first in the world, and on 15 March 2017 the relevant settlement was passed into law by the New Zealand Parliament.
'In 2018 I was forming the song but wasn't sure what it should be about. When I read about the Whanganui River it instantly became clear what the song should be and I Am the River #33 was born' - Tom Houston March 2020.
To buy the song or Album direct frorm Tom visit www.tomhouston...
To see more videos from Bill Bruce visit vimeo.com/diff...
To stream Tom's music visit open.spotify.c...

[@YaelKahn]

Yet another incredible song by Tom Houston

[@alexwilliams5556]

Love this song. I heard it recently on BBC Radio Scotland's Iain Anderson Show. I explored Tom Houston's music further which resulted in the purchase of his CD's.

[@EaglesNestRadio]

Great sound!

[@catherinesargeant1434]

Fabulous

[@stefanlundin1000]

A really fine song!

[@16sillyducks]

thanks Stefan. You can check out Tom's music at www.tomhouston.org