River (Joni Mitchell song)

"River" is a song by Canadian singer songwriter Joni Mitchell, from her 1971 album Blue. Written on piano and concerned with feelings of geographical displacement and loss of a relationship, it has become a standard for artists in many music styles; and although the song is only set at Christmas time rather than being about the holiday, it has become popular as Christmas music. Although never released as a single, "River" holds second place among Mitchell's songs most recorded by other artists, with over a thousand such versions. In 2021, it was ranked at No. 247 on Rolling Stone's "Top 500 Best Songs of All Time".