Run with the River

Moving back home to Philly from LA was quite a change. In the course of looking for Music Therapy work, my friend Lynn Miller employed me as a co-therapist with Eric Reinhardt, who had also just moved to the area from New York.

Working with adult psychiatric groups, Eric played guitar while I played keyboard. We played a wide range of songs from Gershwin's "Summertime" and Elvis Presley's "All Shook Up" to James Taylor's "You've Got a Friend". Together we watched transformation after transformation happen right before our eyes.

The groups were diagnosed with depression, accompanied by anxiety and tiredness. Often slumped over in their chairs as we began with our greeting song, the group members were seen rising to an upright position, singing, dancing and playing percussion instruments within the hour as we progressed to our goodbye song. It was a wonderful feeling knowing that music could change lives.

During our improvisations, Eric and I realized we were well-matched to co-write original songs, leading to Run with the River which utilizes some especially vivid imagery, as seen in the lyrics: "Evening sky shining like diamonds on the river". The song speaks of the river being the essence of life, and how life goes by so quickly, while we too often take our days for granted.

"Changing of seasons comes quickly,
No rhyme or reason,
The river is calling me"

Run with the River communicates the longing for a relationship to continue with warm embraces, a timeless gaze and to take these hearts and run, run with the River of Life.


Run with the River
(Angela Falco, Eric Reinhardt)

Sun slowly sinking lower
On the horizon
Evening sky shining like diamonds on the river
Caught in a timeless gaze
Begging one moment more
Please take these hearts
Let them run

Stars over your shoulders glowing
Bright as the fire from your eyes
Moon lit skies
Shining like diamond on the water
Held in your warm embrace
Touching your lips once more

Please take these hearts
Let them run

Run, run with the river, run
Run, run with the river so deep

Changing of seasons comes quickly
No rhyme or reason
The river is calling me

Please take these hearts
Let them run

Run, run with the river, run
Run with the river so deep


Credits

Piano: Angela Falco
Vocals: Matt Spitko, Susan Lake, Jay Davidson
Harmonica/ Organ: Jay Davidson
Guitar: Juan Kamuca
Bass: Chico Huff
Drums: David Uosikkinen
Written by Angela Falco (ASCAP), Eric Reinhardt © 2008
Produced by Jay Davidson
Recorded at Elm Street Studios, Conshohocken, PA
Engineered by John O. Senior
Mixed by Chris Zurzolo at Medicine Man Studios, Bala Cynwyd, PA, with Jay Davidson, Angela Falco
Mastered by Nathan James, The Vault Mastering Studios, NYC & Phoenix, AZ

Run with the River cover

Run with the River

A beautiful life-affirming song from Angela's soon to be published music therapy book.


Visit Spotify to listen to the song.


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Photo Credits

Cover image:
© 2013 John O. Senior

Lyric background image:
© 2013 Eric Reinhardt