Moon River

Andy Williams

About Moon River

"Moon River" is a song composed by Henry Mancini with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. It was originally performed by Audrey Hepburn in the 1961 movie Breakfast at Tiffany's, winning an Academy Award for Best Original Song. The song also won the 1962 Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. The song has been covered by many other artists. It became the theme song for Andy Williams, who first recorded it in 1962 (and performed it at the Academy Awards ceremony that year). He sang the first eight bars of the song at the beginning of each episode of his eponymous television show and named his production company and venue in Branson, Missouri, after it; his autobiography is called "Moon River" and Me. Williams' version was never released as a single, but it charted as an LP track that he recorded for Columbia on a hit album of 1962, Moon River and Other Great Movie Themes. The song's success was responsible for relaunching Mercer's career as a songwriter, which had stalled in the mid-1950s because rock and roll had replaced jazz standards as the popular music of the time. The song's popularity is such that it has been used as a test sample in a study on people's memories of popular songs. Comments about the lyrics have noted that they are particularly reminiscent of Mercer's youth in the Southern United States and his longing to expand his horizons. Robert Wright wrote in The Atlantic Monthly, "This is a love sung [sic] to wanderlust. Or a romantic song in which the romantic partner is the idea of romance." An inlet near Savannah, Georgia, Johnny Mercer's hometown, was named Moon River in honor of him and this song. 


Year:
2004
92 
#1

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Moon river, wider than a mile
I'm crossing you in style some day
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker
Wherever you're goin', I'm goin' your way

Two drifters, off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see
We're after the same rainbow's end, waitin' 'round the bend
My huckleberry friend, moon river, and me

(Moon river, wider than a mile)
(I'm crossin' you in style some day)
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker
Wherever you're goin', I'm goin' your way

Two drifters, off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see
We're after that same rainbow's end, waitin' 'round the bend
My huckleberry friend, moon river, and me
(Moon river)
(Moon river, ooh)

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Andy Williams

Howard Andrew "Andy" Williams (December 3, 1927 – September 25, 2012) was an American popular music singer. He recorded seventeen Gold- and three Platinum-certified albums. He hosted The Andy Williams Show, a TV variety show, from 1962 to 1971, as well as numerous television specials. Most recently, he performed at his Moon River Theatre in Branson, Missouri, which was named after the Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini song "Moon River", with which he is closely identified. more »

12 fans

Written by: Johnny Mercer, Henry Mancini

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Tratore

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


12 facts about this song

Creators
"Moon River" is a song composed by Henry Mancini with lyrics written by Johnny Mercer. Andy Williams performed the most famous version of the song.
1961 Release
The song was first performed in the 1961 movie "Breakfast at Tiffany's".
Audrey Hepburn's Performance
The first time "Moon River" was performed, it was by actress Audrey Hepburn in "Breakfast at Tiffany's" where she played the character Holly Golightly.
Oscars Award
"Moon River" won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1961.
Andy Williams' Association
Andy Williams' cover of the song became so popular that "Moon River" became his theme song. He even named his production company and venue in Branson, Missouri after the song.
Recordings
The song has been covered by hundreds of artists, including Frank Sinatra, Elton John, and Barbra Streisand.
Present in AFI’s List
The American Film Institute (AFI) listed "Moon River" as the fourth greatest song in American cinema in 2004.
Johnny Mercer's Inspiration
Mercer, who grew up in Savannah, Georgia, United States, was inspired by the city's Back River and Moon River when he wrote the lyrics.
Song Classification
"Moon River" is considered a pop standard, a song that is continually performed or recorded by a variety of artists and is part of the cultural canon.
Misinterpretation of Lyrics
Oftentimes, the song lyrics "my huckleberry friend" are misinterpreted. The phrase is actually a reference to Mark Twain's classic novel "Huckleberry Finn".
Controversy in the Film
During the production of "Breakfast at Tiffany's", the song was almost removed from the film because executives at Paramount Pictures thought it slowed down the movie.
Hugely Recognized
"Moon River" is recognized worldwide, and it was even included on the Voyager Golden Records, which were sent into space by NASA in 1977 to represent the best of humanity to potential extraterrestrial life.

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