Moody River

Album: Pat Boone's Greatest Hits (1961)
Charted: 18 1
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is a teenage tragedy song about a boy who was supposed to meet his girlfriend next to the river, but finds out once he gets there she committed suicide. She left a note behind that she was cheating on him and could no longer live with the guilt. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Landon - Winchester, OH
  • The country singer Chase Webster wrote this song (using the alias Gary Bruce) and was the first to record it, issuing his version in early 1961. Boone covered the song later that year, taking it to #1 in the US on June 19.
  • Boone's producer, Randy Wood, had him sing in a higher key than usual to indicate the pain he was feeling in this song.
  • According to Boone, he heard this song on the radio as he was driving home from the recording session. He producer brought a copy of the song over to the station, which put it right on the air, beating Boone home.

Comments: 6

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn July 8th 1958, "If Dreams Came True" by Pat Boone entered Billboard's Top 100 chart; eventually it peaked at #7 and spent 13 weeks on the Top 100...
    It was the 11th and last record in a string of eleven straight Top 10 records by Mr. Boone...
    He would not have another Top 10 record for three years, then "Moody River" entered the Top 10 at #7 on June 5th, 1961, and on June 19th it peaked at #1 (for 1 week)...
    The B-side of "If Dreams Came True" was entitled "That's How Much I Love You", it also made the Top 100, it stayed on the chart for 9 weeks, peaking at #39...
    Mr. Boone, born Charles Eugene Boone, celebrated his 80th birthday one month ago on June 1st, 2014.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyIn 1958 Pat Boone just missed accomplishing the rare feat of having a two-sided Top 10 record; "A Wonderful Time Up There" peaked at #4 while the flip-side, "It's Too Soon To Know", managed to reached #11...
  • Joann from Omaha, NeJohnny Rivers also recorded this song. It was on the flip side of the Mountain of Love single, released in 1964. Johnny Rivers' version was the first one I heard and only one I knew of until much, much later when I heard Pat Boone's version.
    John Fogerty also recorded this on his latest record, The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again.
    All versions I've heard are good, but I still like Johnny Rivers' version the best.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyPat Boone's younger brother, who recorded under the name Nick Todd, had a song {At The Hop} peak at #21 in 1958. Both were born on June 1st; Pat in 1934 and Nick Todd one year later in 1935...
  • Roman from Barrie, OnRecently there was a commercial on tv which used background music very very similar to this song. that month another website which offers lyrics of songs got over 1100 hits for 'Moody River'
  • Steve Dotstar from Los Angeles, CaNot a great song, but I love the way Pat does this tune...Pat was and is, a great talent. I believe Sinatra also recorded a version of this later on. I've never heard it.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")Song Writing

Director Mark Pellington on Pearl Jam's "Jeremy," and music videos he made for U2, Jon Bon Jovi and Imagine Dragons.

Why Does Everybody Hate Nu-Metal? Your Metal Questions Answered

Why Does Everybody Hate Nu-Metal? Your Metal Questions AnsweredSong Writing

10 Questions for the author of Precious Metal: Decibel Presents the Stories Behind 25 Extreme Metal Masterpieces

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & PalmerSongwriter Interviews

Greg talks about writing songs of "universal truth" for King Crimson and ELP, and tells us about his most memorable stage moment (it involves fireworks).

Paul Williams

Paul WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

He's a singer and an actor, but as a songwriter Paul helped make Kermit a cultured frog, turned a bank commercial into a huge hit and made love both "exciting and new" and "soft as an easy chair."

Harry Wayne Casey of KC and The Sunshine Band

Harry Wayne Casey of KC and The Sunshine BandSongwriter Interviews

Harry Wayne Casey tells the stories behind KC and The Sunshine Band hits like "Get Down Tonight," "That's The Way (I Like It)," and "Give It Up."

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And Hell

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And HellSongwriter Interviews

Guitarist Tony Iommi on the "Iron Man" riff, the definitive Black Sabbath song, and how Ozzy and Dio compared as songwriters.