Live Like A River

Album: Odludek (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is a track from Doves vocalist Jimi Goodwin's first solo album, Odlukek. Before their incarnation as Doves, the three members were a Dance music trio called Sub Sub. Asked by Digital Spy whether his own solo material would hark back to the Sub Sub sound, Goodwin said: "There's a track on the record called 'Live Like a River' which is like a cross between dirty grungy rock meets rave."

    "I still listen to all sorts of music," he added. "I haven't just made a 'some guy out of a band singer-songwriter' record, because that doesn't interest me. I've made a record based on all the things I want to hear in other people's records that maybe I haven't heard in one place."

    "It's not exactly original, but the inspiration for it was like a T90 CDK mixtape that you'd make for your mate, with all that crazy eclecticism and all those tracks slamming into one another," Goodwin continued, "folk tracks, carnival esque, Tom Waitsy oompah music."
  • This was inspired by a letter the poet Ted Hughes wrote to his son. Goodwin explained to Under The Radar magazine: "Near the end he mentions a quote he attributes to the Buddha, 'Live like a mighty river. And as the old Greeks said: live as though all your ancestors were living again through you.' Bang! Pow! Those sentiments hit me so hard and resonated deeply with me. I had the chorus."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Chris Fehn of Slipknot

Chris Fehn of SlipknotSongwriter Interviews

A drummer for one of the most successful metal bands of the last decade, Chris talks about what it's like writing and performing with Slipknot. Metal-neck is a factor.

Todd Rundgren

Todd RundgrenSongwriter Interviews

Todd Rundgren explains why he avoids "Hello It's Me," and what it was like producing Meat Loaf's Bat Out of Hell album.

Steve Cropper (Booker T & the MG's, Blues Brothers)

Steve Cropper (Booker T & the MG's, Blues Brothers)Songwriter Interviews

Steve Cropper on the making of "In the Midnight Hour," the chicken-wire scene in The Blues Brothers, and his 2021 album, Fire It Up.

Corey Hart

Corey HartSongwriter Interviews

The Canadian superstar talks about his sudden rise to fame, and tells the stories behind his hits "Sunglasses At Night," "Boy In The Box" and "Never Surrender."

Have Mercy! It's Wolfman Jack

Have Mercy! It's Wolfman JackSong Writing

The story of the legendary lupine DJ through the songs he inspired.

Producer Ron Nevison

Producer Ron NevisonSong Writing

Ron Nevison explains in very clear terms the Quadrophenia concept and how Heart staged their resurgence after being dropped by their record company.