in which yael naim urges you to go to the river

so, yael naim, the french-israeli singer-songwriter, is, for lack of a better word, charming. at times singing in hebrew, other in english, or french – or even a combination of several, yael’s got a whimsical, sweet voice that goes well with her fun, french-tinged songs.

case in point: go to the river, off of her most recent release, she was a boy. yael’s teamed up with percussionist david donatien to create a quirky, addictive song that will definitely make you want to sing along. rapid fire lyrics amongst handclaps (yay for handclaps!), go to the river has a barely restrained urgency that comes across more joyful than stressful.

(one, two, three)
when you feel ashamed, go to the river
when you’re feeling sad, go to the river
when you’re feeling blue inside, immersed and tired
when you’re feeling stuck in pain, forever

go-go-go-go, go tonight; you
sigh and sigh inside you long for
more, more of the life you had be-
fore-fore-fore, let the seasons
arrive and dive let the winter snow and
glow glow when the wind will blow just
flow flow, eventually you will know

go, go,
you should go, go

when you’re feeling bad, go to the river
when you’re feeling mad, go to the river
when you feel it blows your mind, ’cause you can’t find
when you feel you’re going blind, you can’t deny…

i say:
go-go-go with the river flow; you
hide hide hide, but the river gets wide; don’t
row, row, with everything you
know-know-know, all you’ve carried inside
side-side, let the water unwind; don’t
fight, fight – the river is right – let
go, go, eventually you will grow

when you feel you’ll lose your mind, they’ll let you slide
when you feel you go insane, they let you die

go-go, the river will know
blow-blow, the river will blow
go-go, the wind will sigh
blow-blow, the leaves can die
go-go, the seeds will grow
blow-blow, the river will slow
go-go, the years go by
blow-blow, with the river go

go-go-go-go, in your soul you
try to fly, but never get high; you’re
low low, wishing for the
tide to rise; hold your feelings inside
side-side-side, let the river glide and
slow slow, the winter will go, you
know-know-know with everything, you’ll grow
whatever comes will go

go-go-go down the river below you
sigh-sigh-sigh and the years go by and
so, so, the leaves will fall but
more-more-more, you wanted even more just
go-go-go with the river flow, you
can’t decide, ’cause the river gets wild, you
know, know that there’s no goal, no
sign , sign…
eventually you will find

go, go

download the song from the widget below:

now check out the video: