Jimmy Cliff - Many Rivers To Cross

First performance: 03/04/1993

Coverinfo

Bruce performed the song 24 times: Almost all during the world tour 1992 – 1993
 
 
Following the keynote speech, Bruce performs an intimate concert at Moody Theater, the theater and studio for Austin City Limits. Tickets were only available via raffle to festival badgeholders who applied on the South By Southwest website. The final warm-up show features a 24-song set with plenty of special guests. Jimmy Cliff shares the stage with Bruce & The E Street Band for three songs, surprisingly "Trapped" is not among them. "Many Rivers To Cross" was played regularly during the 1993 leg of the 1992-93 World Tour; "Time Will Tell" was also played on that tour and makes it's U.S. debut here. Also the "the harder they come" was plaued together with Bruce.The Animals' Eric Burdon performs with Springsteen for the first time in an appearance that was arranged following Bruce's passionate speech about The Animals' influence on his music. "This Land Is Your Land" (last played with the band at the closing show of the Born In The U.S.A. Tour) closes the set, with the accompaniment of Joe Ely, Alejandro Escovedo, Tom Morello, Garland Jeffreys, Arcade Fire, and The Low Anthem. "My City Of Ruins" includes "People Get Ready".
  
 
 
Kristen Ann Carr Fund Benefit Concert. The fund is dedicated to fighting Sarcoma. Joe Ely and Terence Trent D'Arby guest. Joe Ely plays guitar and sings on "Lonesome Valley" and "Settle For Love". Terence Trent D'Arby plays guitar and sings on on "Many Rivers To Cross", "I Have Faith In These Desolate Times", "Jole Blon", and "Jumpin' Jack Flash". Sadly, this show is perhaps best known for the Terence Trent D'Arby "event". After D'Arby was booed Bruce admonished the crowd: "Terence Trent D´Arby... need I remind some of you rude motherfuckers that everybody onstage is my guest?".
 
1993-06-01 Valle Hovin Stadion, Oslo, Norway
1993-05-30 Gentofte Stadion, Gentofte, Denmark
1993-05-28 Stockholms Stadion, Stockholm, Sweden
1993-05-16 Alter Flughafen-Riem, Munich, Germany
1993-05-14 Waldbühne, Berlin, Germany
1993-05-11 Estadi Olímpic De Montjuïc, Barcelona, Spain
1993-05-09 Auditorio Monte Do Gozo, Santiago De Compostela, Spain
1993-05-07 Estadio Municipal El Molinón, Gijón, Spain
1993-05-05 Estadio Vicente Calderón, Madrid, Spain
1993-05-01 Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal
1993-04-24 Flanders Expo, Ghent, Belgium
1993-04-23 Flanders Expo, Ghent, Belgium
1993-04-20 Sportpaleis Ahoy, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
1993-04-19 Sportpaleis Ahoy, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
1993-04-16 Sheffield Arena, Sheffield, England
1993-04-15 Sheffield Arena, Sheffield, England
1993-04-13 Halle Tony Garnier, Lyon, France
 
1993-04-11 Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi, Verona, Italy
Show also features a guest appearance by Jimmy Cliff on "Time Will Tell".
 
1993-04-08 Hallenstadion, Zurich, Switzerland
1993-04-07 Hallenstadion, Zurich, Switzerland
1993-04-04 Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, Germany
1993-04-03 Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, Germany
 

Songinfo

"Many Rivers to Cross" is a song written in 1969 by Jimmy Cliff. Cliff was only 21 when he wrote and recorded the song in 1969, stating he wrote the song due to the trouble he was having making it as a successful musical artist after originally finding tremendous success in his home of Jamaica beginning at age 14 before moving to the United Kingdom. Cliff stated, "When I came to the UK, I was still in my teens. I came full of vigor: I’m going to make it, I’m going to be up there with the Beatles and the Stones. And it wasn’t really going like that, I was touring clubs, not breaking through. I was struggling, with work, life, my identity, I couldn’t find my place; frustration fueled the song." Regarding the line, "Wandering I am lost, as I travel along the White Cliffs of Dover," Cliff stated, "...that came from the number of times I crossed the channel to the continent. Most of the time it was France but sometimes it was Germany. It was a very frustrating time. I came to England with very big hopes and I saw my hopes fading. And that song came out of that experience." Cliff stated he was working on his second album for Island Records but held the song back because he did not think a ballad would be appropriate. Cliff waited until he came to New York to mix the record and add overdubs and backing vocals. Cliff was walking from his residence to the studio, which took 15 minutes, and finished composing the song in his head. On the last day of the session, as the union backing musicians were preparing to leave, Cliff asked if he could play a song idea he had. Cliff added, "I started singing, the band came in, and that was it. Once. That was it. And then Chris said, 'OK, let's put this one in to fill out the album. This is one of the few Cliff tracks to use an organ, which helps to supplement the gospel feel provided by the backing vocalists.

 

Bruce on the artist

2020-04-24 SiriusXM Studio, New York City, NY
Bruce plays sufferin' in the land during his second 'From His Home to Yours': For the next hour or so, I will be your DJ for your dancing and listening pleasure. I hope you've all been … staying home, because outside the world is roiling.
"I've known Jimmy Cliff for, I don't know, 20, 25 years at least. And he was always one of my favorite, favorite musicians. And this was on one of the early, early records. It's just a great song about tough times and hardship."
Bruce also played Jimmy Cliff's many rivers to cross as last song of the second episode.  

Lyrics

Many rivers to cross
But I can't seem to find my way over
Wandering I am lost
As I travel along the white cliffs of dover

Many rivers to cross
And it's only my will that keeps me alive
I've been licked, washed up for years
And I merely survive because of my pride

And this loneliness won't leave me alone
It's such a drag to be on your own
My woman left me and she didn't say why
Well, I guess I'll have to cry

Many rivers to cross

But just where to begin I'm playing for time
There have been times I find myself
Thinking of committing some dreadful crime

Yes, I've got many rivers to cross
But I can't seem to find my way over
Wandering, I am lost
As I travel along the white cliffs of Dover

Yes, I've got many rivers to cross
And I merely survive because of my will...