River of No Return (1954)

[movieman]

Lyrics found on YouTube.com:

Artist: Tennessee Ernie Ford
Album: The Ultimate Collection (1949-1965)
Song: River of No Return

There is a river called the river of no return;
Sometimes it's peaceful, and sometimes wild and free!
Love is a trav'ler on the river of no return, (no return, no return)
Swept on forever to be lost in a stormy sea.

Wail-a-ree, I can hear the river call
Where the roarin' waters fall,
Wail-a-ree, I can hear my lover call,
"Come to me"

I lost my love on the river,
and forever my heart will yearn; (no return, no return)
Gone, gone forever,
Down the river of no return.

Wail-a-ree, wail-a-ree,
She'll never return to me!
(no return, no return, no return)

[movieman]

Marilyn Monroe singing "River of No Return":

[youtube][/youtube][/youtube]

[mrsl]

Thank you movieman:

I may have had a doubt or two, but now I know for sure it's Bob Mitchum singing over the credits. As deep as Ernies' voice was, Bob had certain inflections on certain words, so I know now. I'm not disputing the fact that Ernie recorded the song, it's definitely one he could do justice to, and I'd be willing to bet Mitchum was flattered when he did record it, in fact, it did make it to the top 40. Bob never recorded it as a single, so I guess that's why Ernie did.

Let's just agree to disagree. Believe me, I've seen the movie so many times, I've known the words by heart for years now. That's another reason I know it's not Ernie singing in the movie, the hesitations and the way the word 'river' is sung is different in Ernie's version.

Anne

[Sue Sue Applegate]

Thanks for the lyrics, movieman! I used to have them written down somewhere, but I lost them. I love that song!

I think it's Bob Mitchum singing on the opening credits, but I only have it on VHS.

Sounds just like the fellow on "Thunder Road."

[Sue Sue Applegate]

Thanks for posting this version with Tennessee Ernie Ford, movieman.
I've always enjoyed his singing.
I am going to watch my old VHS this weekend and make a comparison.

But I still think it's Robert Mitchum. But I've been wrong, before.

I found this link from el poder de la palabra, and this version sounds
like Tennesse Ernie Ford, too.

http://www.epdlp.com/bso.php?id=2005


I think one reason I like River of No Return so much is that it is a non-muscial type musical. The songs don't have an elaborate set-up, they occur naturally as a result of the storyline and the musical numbers don't have that contrived aura.

Plus Robert Mitchum!

[SSO Admins]

Here's Bob singing The Ballad of Thunder Road.

[Sue Sue Applegate]

Thanks, jondaris!

[movieman]

[quote="Sue Sue Applegate"]Thanks for posting this version with Tennessee Ernie Ford, movieman.

I found this link from el poder de la palabra, and this version sounds
like Tennesse Ernie Ford, too.

http://www.epdlp.com/bso.php?id=2005

This is the movie version, lifted from the soundtrack of the movie. It's, most likely, Tennessee Ernie Ford singing. I still believe the ending version may be sung by Mitchum.

Even B

[Sue Sue Applegate]

I just listened to the ending credits when "Kay" throws those fancy red shoes in the middle of the street, and darned if that didn't sound like Tennessee Ernie Ford, too.

I'm purty confused....

[movieman]

A post by Maria commenting on a Biography TV program
(Wed Jun 19, 2002 3:34 pm)

"For those of you who were able to watch Biography last night, were
you irritated by the errors they made? They said that he sang the
title song from River Of No Return and even played the sound track
causing viewers to think they were hearing Mitch singing. He did
record River Of No Return at a later date, but not for the filming..."

Source: robertmitchumfans · Robert Mitchum fans - Discuss the great actor and singer Robert Mitchum, at Yahoo Groups.

Even B

[Sue Sue Applegate]

This one sounds pretty much settled to me. I just wonder why he was listed in the imdb on the soundtrack. Maybe it was just his soundtrack, not the movie's soundtrack?

Thanks for all your detective work, movieman.

[Sue Sue Applegate]

If anyone's interested in Robert Mitchum Sings Calypso, you might click on this link:

[youtube][/youtube]