River is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, third track on the B side of her fourth studio album Blue, released on June 22, 1971. Although it was never released as a single, this song ranks second, after Both Sides Now, among Mitchell’s songs most recorded by other artists.

«I love this song as it’s an alternative to all the jolly, glittery Christmas songs out there,” she wrote on Instagram. “Some people find Christmas a challenging time of year, for different reasons, and I feel like ‘River’ is a song to find comfort in»

Years ago, Michael Ball at a London drama school was watching a performance of traditional Christmas music when, at one point, the students performed Joni Mitchell’s “River.” Ball was somewhat surprised, as the 1971 classic isn’t quite a Christmas song. Although the opening melody is Jingle Bells and the lyrics begin with a description of the Christmas season:Christmas is coming, they’re cutting down trees/They’re herding reindeer, singing songs of joy and peace. Actually “River” is a sad song, based on an interrupted love story. The desperate drama appears to be set during the holidays.

Someone had imagined that Joni Mitchell had drawn inspiration from the relationship she had with Graham Nash in the late 60s.

Although the song is only set in the Christmas period, and not about Christmas itself, it has become a Christmas classic over time.

Writer Will Blythe believes the song is connected to a visit to Chapel Hill Mitchell made with then-boyfriend James Taylor and a caroling session with his family.

“I’m not even a 10th as good as singer as she is, but we carried on, regardless. Obviously there’s the challenge of singing it, which took quite a few goes. One of the biggest differences is the dry-room drum, which brings in more of a modern-day slant to it" (Tom Chaplin)