When Naomi Judd found herself pregnant, she quickly got married but not to the father of her first child, daughter Christina Ciminella. Christina, born May 30, 1964, became known as Wynonna Judd when the mother-daughter duo stormed the country charts in the 1980s.
After Naomi Judd divorced, she moved from Hollywood, back to Morrill, Ky., with Wynonna and another daughter Ashley. There, she worked as a nurse in a local infirmary. Outside working and school hours, she and the children would sing anything from bluegrass to showbiz standards for their own amusement. However, when Wynonna nurtured aspirations to be a professional entertainer, her mother lent her encouragement, to the extent of moving the family to Nashville in 1979. Naomi's contralto subtly underlined Wynonna's tuneful drawl.
In addition to many performances on Ralph Emery's morning television show, Naomi elicited an audition for RCA Records while tending a hospitalized relation of label producer Brent Maher. With a past that read like a Judith Krantz novel, the Judds -- so the executives considered -- would have more than an even chance in the country market. An exploratory mini-album, which contained proved the executives correct. The single "Had a Dream (From the Heart)" peaked at No. 17 in 1984. Later that year, the Judds scored their first of 14 No. 1 hits with "Mama He's Crazy."
Self-composed songs included Naomi's 1989 composition "Change of Heart," dedicated to her future second husband (and former Elvis Presley backing vocalist) Larry Strickland. Meanwhile, Maher co-wrote hits such as 1985's Grammy-winning "Why Not Me," "Turn It Loose," "Girls Night Out," "Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout The Good Ol' Days)" and "Rockin' With the Rhythm of the Rain."
Most Judds records exhibited an acoustic bias and a penchant for star guests that included the Jordanaires on "Don't Be Cruel," Emmylou Harris on "The Sweetest Gift," Mark Knopfler on his "Water of Love" and Bonnie Raitt playing slide guitar on the album Love Can Build a Bridge. In 1988, the pair became the first female country act to found their own booking agency (Pro-Tours), but a chronic hepatitis infection forced Naomi to retire from the concert stage two years later.
The Judds toured America in a series of farewell concerts before Wynonna began her solo career. Wynonna got off to a strong start, as her first two singles both went to #1. Her 1994 single "Girls With Guitars" featured Naomi (as well as Lyle Lovett) on backup vocals.
In 1998, The Judds appeared in a commercial for the retail chain Kmart, singing Wynonna's single "Woman To Woman".
In 1999, Wynonna reunited with her mother for a New Year's Eve concert in Phoenix. The following year, the duo recorded four new tracks for a bonus disc issued with Wynonna's album New Day Dawning, and undertook a multi-city tour. The results were issued as the album Reunion Live. A 2004 single, "Flies On The Butter (You Can't Go Home Again)" was recorded with Naomi; however, the single was credited as "Wynonna with Naomi Judd" instead of "The Judds".
River of Time
The Judds Lyrics
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Just thinking 'bout those happy years
Like all the good times that are no more
My love is gone, gone, gone forever more
Silence so deep only my soul can hear
Says now the past is what I fear
The future isn't what it used to be
Flow on, river of time
Wash away the pain and heal my mind
Flow on, river of time
Carry me away
And leave it all far behind
Flow on river of time
We're all driven by the winds of change
Seems like nothing ever stays the same
It's fate that guides me around the bend
Life's forever beginning, beginning again
Flow on, river of time
Wash away the pain and heal my mind
Flow on, river of time
Carry me away
And leave it all far behind
Flow on river of time
Carry me away and heal my mind
Flow on, river of time
Carry me away and heal my mind
Flow on, river of time
Flow on
Carry me away and heal my mind
Flow on river of time
Flow on
Flow on river of time
The Judds’ “River of Time” is a song that reflects on the inevitable passage of time and the challenges of moving on from loss. The first verse focuses on reminiscing about the past and the joys that have been left behind. In the second verse, the lyrics shift to a deeper reflection on the passage of time, with the singer acknowledging her fear of the future and the uncertainty of what’s to come.
The chorus serves as a plea for the river of time to wash away the pain and carry the singer away from her troubles. The repeated phrase “flow on, river of time” serves as a reminder that time keeps moving forward even when we cannot, and that we must find ways to move forward with it. The final line, “flow on”, is a simple yet powerful message to keep going and not get stuck in the past.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm holding back a flood of tears
With great difficulty, I'm trying to keep myself from crying.
Just thinking 'bout those happy years
As I reminisce, I think about the times when I was very happy.
Like all the good times that are no more
I can't help but think about all the great moments that have vanished.
My love is gone, gone, gone forever more
I've lost my beloved forever, and that will never change.
Silence so deep only my soul can hear
The stillness is so profound that it can only be felt by my soul.
Says now the past is what I fear
The quiet voice within me warns me that I should be afraid of the past.
The future isn't what it used to be
The days to come are not what they were in the past.
Only today is all that's promised me
The only guarantee I have is today, nothing more.
Flow on, river of time
Keep moving, time, like a river that never stops.
Wash away the pain and heal my mind
Take away my suffering and help me recover emotionally.
Carry me away
Take me with you.
And leave it all far behind
Leave everything behind and move on.
We're all driven by the winds of change
We're all moving forward, pushed by the winds of change.
Seems like nothing ever stays the same
Things are always changing, and nothing ever remains the same for long.
It's fate that guides me around the bend
Fate is leading me to a new path, and I must follow it.
Life's forever beginning, beginning again
Life is constantly starting anew, and it's always a new beginning.
Carry me away and heal my mind
Take me with you and help me heal emotionally.
Flow on
Keep moving ahead.
Flow on river of time
Keep moving, time, like a river that never stops.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Jarvis, Naomi Judd
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind