Jeff Black — Same Old River
Album: B-Sides and ConfessionsAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 290
Length: 4:59
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I wish that I could be an indian
On a painted pony so fast
No one could ever catch me
Or get caught up in my past
I'd ride and cross many rivers
Use many moons to tell time
And I'd tell all the young warriors
(Many moons ago this was mine all mine
Same old river same old sea
Same old water rushing over me
Same old moon same old sun
Same old race that we've always run
I wish that I could be a pirate
And sail the ocean blue
Way before the big liners
Started sailing there too
I'd bury most of my treasure
So I wouldn't leave a big hole
And the only real sense of pleasure I'd ge
Is that I would sail free in my soul
I wish that I could be a slave y'all
It really wouldn't matter what kind
I'd sing a song for fallen angels
And try to be free in my mind
Then when no one was looking
I'd drop my harness and plow
I'd find my old contemporaries
And wipe the shame from their brow
I wish that I could be an outlaw
Riding from the laws of time
An old vigilante against the seasons
That I can't help but rewind
I'd always keep my revolver
Steady and fast at my side
And I'd rob a train bound for glory
If I thought I needed a ride
On a painted pony so fast
No one could ever catch me
Or get caught up in my past
I'd ride and cross many rivers
Use many moons to tell time
And I'd tell all the young warriors
(Many moons ago this was mine all mine
Same old river same old sea
Same old water rushing over me
Same old moon same old sun
Same old race that we've always run
I wish that I could be a pirate
And sail the ocean blue
Way before the big liners
Started sailing there too
I'd bury most of my treasure
So I wouldn't leave a big hole
And the only real sense of pleasure I'd ge
Is that I would sail free in my soul
I wish that I could be a slave y'all
It really wouldn't matter what kind
I'd sing a song for fallen angels
And try to be free in my mind
Then when no one was looking
I'd drop my harness and plow
I'd find my old contemporaries
And wipe the shame from their brow
I wish that I could be an outlaw
Riding from the laws of time
An old vigilante against the seasons
That I can't help but rewind
I'd always keep my revolver
Steady and fast at my side
And I'd rob a train bound for glory
If I thought I needed a ride
Comments (27)add comment
it is never the same old river. Never.
Prefer Sam Bush’s version (especially live!)
White guy with acoustic guitar - yawn.
trancefussion wrote:
Sure, yeah. Some really great artists do their best work in the studio, even if their live performances aren't much to speak of. Writing a great song, performing it, and recording it are all three different skills. Jeff Black has mastered the first two. But, while his studio efforts are fantastic, in my opinion they don't capture the strength and passion of his live shows.
Does any true musicians work? Not saying that he is....
Sure, yeah. Some really great artists do their best work in the studio, even if their live performances aren't much to speak of. Writing a great song, performing it, and recording it are all three different skills. Jeff Black has mastered the first two. But, while his studio efforts are fantastic, in my opinion they don't capture the strength and passion of his live shows.
Jeff is great. His music is great. His live performances are great. As to Mr. Odyzzeuz "cliche" issues (below), please keep in mind that when you are a folk/rock/pop musician, being able to write yourself out of a cliche is the job, and Jeff does it well. When you find a cliche in Jeff's music, chances are it will be given new and genuine meaning. That is what this whole song is about. REM does it all the time. It is just great writing. Play more Black.
First John Fogerty's "River is Waiting", now this. Great soundtrack material for my home-grown kayak videos! 
zaknafein wrote:
Jeff is definitely a very good guy. I went to his latest album release party at a small bar here in KC about a year ago, a great time.
The Record Bar?
Jeff is definitely a very good guy. I went to his latest album release party at a small bar here in KC about a year ago, a great time.
Eye-rollingly cliched. At least it's honest about being same ol' same ol'. He wants to be a pirate on the ocean blue. Please.
sergeant_x wrote:
Just saw Jeff play in Manhattan KS. He's really incredible, and it doesn't show up fully on the recorded material. It's all there, the lyrics and the song...
So true, so true! I saw him by complete accident in Indiana, clutching my rock-n-roll beer, clothed skepticism. Sneering. Then he played and I became a convert. He had the whole audience in the first 2 songs.
not half bad... voice reminds me a lot of Shawn Mullins
Jeff Beck should have stayed in the Yardbirds....oh wait.
Okay so maybe this guy should join the Yardbirds for a lesson in making music.
This song is weak.
rah wrote:
poor man's Lyle Lovett.
took the words right outa my mouth.
Listening to this, I just get an image of John Belushi walking down the stairs in his toga and making funny faces before he grabs the guitar and smashes it into pieces....
Just outstanding! Makes me want to ride off into the sunset. I think I will 
sergeant_x wrote:
He's really incredible, and it doesn't show up fully on the recorded material.
Does any true musicians work? Not saying that he is....
One should not hear this tune too often. That would make me drop below the avarage 5.
poor man's Lyle Lovett.
It's hard to distinguish oneself in the very rich singer-songwriter tradition (just a man and his guitar), It seems someone like Jeff Black pretty much does. Mostly because of his voice. Based on this one song, that is, because I don't know anything else, done by him.
boring.
Just saw Jeff play in Manhattan KS. I just wish someone could figure out how to capture his live shows on a CD in full form. He's really incredible, and it doesn't show up fully on the recorded material. It's all there, the lyrics and the song, but when he plays live its usually just him and his guitar (sometimes piano). Its so pure and perfect. He has a new song called "Wandering Child". Damn....
huge_forehead wrote:
Pretty damn cool - I know this through Sam Bush's version, but I like the wistful tempo on this one better
Ditto & I agree. I think the New Grass Revival version is too slick. I love this.
This is my favorite song by Jeff. I saw him in DC a while back & he was amazing. He is also an incredibly nice guy. This entire CD is genius.
Glad to hear Jeff on here. I uploaded some tracks from his Birmingham Road album some time ago, but they were rejected. :(
Jeff is definitely worth seeing llive if you get the chance. He keeps a pretty up-to-date list of shows at www.jeffblack.com
How very cool this got added! Jeff's music is really amazing stuff. His live shows are even better. I love the way he's able to write songs that sound very straight forward and deal with familiar metaphor but still probe subtle depths that come out only after several listenings. I hope you all like this. I uploaded another of his "The Valley" that's top notch as well.
Pretty damn cool - I know this through Sam Bush's version, but I like the wistful tempo on this one better