Free Sheet Music Giveaway, December 2023
“River” by Joni Mitchell
Inspired by her recent breakup with singer-songwriter Graham Nash and new relationship with James Taylor, Joni Mitchell’s “River” is a solo piano ballad that first appeared on her landmark 1971 album Blue.
While performing the song live in London in 1971, Mitchell described the song as, “… very sad. It gets you in a kind of melancholy before the Christmas spirit.” Indeed, the song was many connections to the holiday season; Mitchell wrote it just before Christmas in 1970, and the lyrics reference people gearing up to celebrate (“They’re cutting down trees/putting up reindeer/singing songs of joy and peace”). Even the piano accompaniment closely follows the 19th century Christmas song “Jingle Bells.”
Today, “River” is one of Joni Mitchell’s most popular and celebrated songs. It is her second-most recorded song (behind “Both Sides, Now”). And in 2021, it was ranked No.247 in Rolling Stone’s “Top 500 Best Songs of All Time” list.
Typically sold for $12.95, this song is yours FREE during December 2023. It is arranged for solo piano and based on this performance. Download your free copy of the sheet music for Joni Mitchell’s “Blue” today!
Fun Facts About “River” By Joni Mitchell:
- There are 432 recordings of the song by various performing artists, with covers by Barry Manilow, James Taylor, Sam Smith, and Ellie Goulding.
- While the song is not directly about Christmas (the events of which merely take place at the same time), it has nonetheless become a popular Christmas standard, appearing on various Christmas music compilation albums.
- The song was never officially released as a single, but it did appear on the 1971 album Blue, which is widely regarded as Mitchell’s finest album and one of the greatest albums all of time.
This song was transcribed for solo piano by Tunescribers team member Joanne V.
