DOWN BY THE RIVER (Neil Young)

Live 28 Oct 1995 version



[Spoken intro (Neil Young):] Bruce! I got it. Bruce! So Bruce says he doesn't have any more songs so uh... we'll settle on doing one of mine.

Be on my side, I'll be on your side
There is no reason for you to hide
It's so hard for me staying here all alone
When you could be taking me for a ride

She could drag me over the rainbow
Send me away

Down by the river
I shot my baby
Down by the river

You take my hand, I'll take your hand
Together we might get away
This much madness, too much sorrow
It's impossible to make it this way

She could drag me over the rainbow
And send me away

Down by the river
I shot my baby
Down by the river

Ooh

Be on my side
Be on my side
Be on my side
Be on my side

Be on my side, I'll be on your side
There is no reason for you to hide
It's so hard for me staying here all alone
When you could be taking me for a ride

She could drag me over the rainbow
And send me away

Down by the river
I shot my baby
Down by the river


Info

The above lyrics are for the live 28 Oct 1995 performance of DOWN BY THE RIVER at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, CA, during the ninth Bridge School Benefit concert. The song was played with Neil Young at the end of Springsteen's set. Springsteen shared vocals with Young on the chorus (the parts above in bold) and played acoustic guitar.


The 28 Oct 1995 Show

The Bridge School Benefit is an annual charity concert organized by Neil Young's wife (until 2014) Pegi Young. Almost every one of the concerts, which started in 1986 and were held every year since 1998, has taken place at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, CA. Proceeds from the concerts benefit the Bridge School, a non-profit organization in Hillsborough, CA, for children with severe speech and physical impairments. The school aims to help the children achieve full participation in their communities through Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and Assistive Technologies (AT). It was founded in 1986 by Pegi Young, Jim Foreder and Dr. Marilyn Buzolich. Bruce Springsteen has performed at two of these benefits: the first edition in 1986 and the ninth edition in 1995.

The ninth annual concert took place on 28 Oct 1995 at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, CA, and featured in the line-up Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, Beck, Emmylou Harris, Daniel Lanois, The Pretenders, and Hootie & The Blowfish. Springsteen performed solo during his set.

Promotional poster for the 28 Oct 1995 Bridge School Benefit concert at Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA
Promotional poster for the 28 Oct 1995 Bridge School Benefit concert at Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA
Ticket stub for the 28 Oct 1995 Bridge School Benefit concert at Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA
Ticket stub for the 28 Oct 1995 Bridge School Benefit concert at Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA
Pass for the 28 Oct 1995 Bridge School Benefit concert at Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA
Pass for the 28 Oct 1995 Bridge School Benefit concert at Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA
(Taken from Brucebase)

  1. SEEDS (solo)
  2. ADAM RAISED A CAIN (solo)
  3. SINALOA COWBOYS (solo)
  4. POINT BLANK (solo)
  5. I DON'T WANT NO MORE OF THIS ARMY LIFE (solo)
  6. THIS HARD LAND (solo)
  7. THE GHOST OF TOM JOAD (solo)
  8. DOWN BY THE RIVER (with Neil Young)
  9. ROCKIN' IN THE FREE WORLD (with all performers)

The first eight songs are Bruce Springsteen's set, featuring Springsteen solo. The last song is the concert's finale featuring all of the evening's performers.


Available Versions

List of available versions of DOWN BY THE RIVER (Neil Young) on this website:

DOWN BY THE RIVER (Neil Young) [Live 22 Mar 1985 version]
DOWN BY THE RIVER (Neil Young) [Live 14 Jun 1989 version]
DOWN BY THE RIVER (Neil Young) [Live 28 Oct 1995 version]
DOWN BY THE RIVER (Neil Young) [Original Neil Young With Crazy Horse version]

Page last updated: 29 Dec 2020