Take Me to the River
Al Green
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Don't know why I love you like I do After all the changes you put me through You stole my money and my cigarette And I haven't seen hide nor hair of you yet I don't know Won't you tell me Am I in love to stay? Take me to the river Won't you wash me down Won't you cleanse my soul Put my feet on the ground I don't know why she treated me so bad After all the things we could have had Love is a notion I can't forget My sweet sixteens I will never regret I don't know Won't you tell me Why I don't understand Take me to the river Drop me in the water Take me to the river Drop me in the water Hold me, love me, please me, tease me, Till I can't, I can't take no more I don't know why I love you like I do After all the changes you put me through There's sixteen candles burning on my wall All telling me who's the fool of them all I don't know Who can tell me Why I don't understand No, no Tell me, tell me Why I don't understand Don't understand Don't understand Don't understand Don't understand Take me to the river Drop me in the water Take, take me to the river Drop me in the water Take, take me to the river I don't know Take, take me to the river I don't know I don't know
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Written by: Al Green, Mabon Lewis Hodges
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
6 facts about this song
Origin"Take Me to the River" is a song written by singer Al Green and his guitarist Mabon "Teenie" Hodges. Both of them are also the original performers of the song.
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Al Green's VersionAl Green's version of "Take Me to the River" was recorded in 1974.
- It was released on his eighth studio album "Al Green Explores Your Mind."
- Despite being one of Green's most popular tracks, it surprisingly never graced the top of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.
- The song is acknowledged for its Southern Soul innovations and contributed to the "Memphis sound" movement.
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Talking Heads' VersionThe new wave band, Talking Heads, covered "Take Me to the River" in 1978.
- Their version adopted a more funky and upbeat style, compared to Al Green's soulful original.
- Their version of the song was a hit and peaked at number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, making it the band's first top 30 hit.
- The song featured on their second studio album "More Songs About Buildings and Food."
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Impact and RecognitionOver the years, the song has been covered by various artists from different genres, highlighting its widespread appeal and influence.
- This track was rated number 117 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
- In 1999, BMI named the song as one of the Top 100 Songs of the Century.
- In 2004, "Take Me to the River" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
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In Popular CultureThe song was referenced in the title of a 2008 documentary about soul music, called "Take Me to the River: The Soul of Memphis."
- Annie Lennox and Steven Tyler have also performed covers of "Take Me to the River."
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Lyrics InterpretationWhile Green's version is considered a plea to God, the Talking Heads' reinterpretation gives off an intricate sense of romanticism and secularism.
- The lyrics can be interpreted as expressing a longing for spiritual redemption and salvation.
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Citation
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"Take Me to the River Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 25 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/9954502/Al+Green/Take+Me+to+the+River>.
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