Music
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There's no better place to find yourself than sitting by a waterfall and listening to its music.Roland R. Kemler
Waterfalls have lured artists, poets, musicians, and writers throughout recorded history. I’ve no doubt that somewhere there are prehistoric cave drawings depicting waterfalls. A worthy effort, I believe, would be a book about how waterfalls throughout the world have inspired creative minds, but I can offer only this meager beginning of a few examples that apply to North Carolina waterfalls. Although a comprehensive worldwide treatment of this subject is not available, I should mention Brian J. Hudson’s Waterfall, which includes a nice chapter on the subject.72 I highly recommend the book to anyone who loves waterfalls. Also, be sure to read the Art, Literature, Poetry, and Photographers 1800s & 1900s pages of this website.
The record sleeve for Paul MacCartney's "Waterfalls."
While this website is dedicated to North Carolina waterfalls, the music category deserves a little flexibility. Music is universal, after all. When Paul McCartney sang “Don’t go jumping waterfalls,” I don’t think he meant to exclude North Carolina.
I’ve tracked down only one notable music reference that is specific to the state, but there are a surprising number of generic recordings that have “waterfall” or “waterfalls” in the title and usually reference waterfalls in the lyrics as metaphors. In addition are countless musical scores, plays, and other performances that use waterfalls as a metaphors.
I’ve listed only a few of these works, which I feel have a quality that warrants inclusion. Keep in mind a couple of things, though. My waterfall music research is in its infancy, and it’s being performed through the ears of a classic rock buff who has limited knowledge of anything recorded outside of the 1970s and 1980s.
Have I missed something that should be on this list?
Liu Shui
Performer: Guan Pinghu
Date: Unknown
“Liu Shui” (Flowing Water), an ancient Chinese musical composition portraying a stream flowing down a mountain, has been played and recorded by countless musicians over the centuries. The rendition by Guan Pinghu is significant because it was included on the gold-plated records that were sent into space aboard the two Voyageur spacecrafts in 1997. How cool is that? A recording about a waterfall is now floating around in outer space! Shout out to Brian J. Hudson for this tidbit that I never would have discovered on my own.74
By a Waterfall
“By A Waterfall” is one of the numbers in Footlight Parade, a 1933 musical starring James Cagney, Joan Blondell, Ruby Keeler and Dick Powell. The extravagant performance, choregraphed by Busby Berkeley with 100 chorus girls, culminates in the famous “Human Waterfall.” As you watch the video, remember that this was done in 1933—no CGI or AI. An incredible performance!
Love Song of the Waterfall
Performer: Sons of the Pioneers
Date: 1937
Bob Nolan, founding member of Sons of the Pioneers, wrote this song in 1936 and recorded it with his group the following year. Slim Whitman recorded the song in 1952, his first big hit, which reached #10 on the Billboard country chart. Whitman’s rendition would be used twenty-five years later on the soundtrack for Close Encounters of Third Kind.
I love this song because waterfalls are not being used as a metaphor. Well, I don’t think they are. Nolan seems to be saying that the sound of love exists in nature as well as among humans and that “the sweetest of all is the song of the waterfall.” How cool is that?!
The lyrics here are Bob Nolan’s original song. When Slim Whitman recorded it, he omitted the first verse. Shame on him!
Lyrics for Love Song of the Waterfall
May This be Love
Performer: Jimi Hendrix
Date: 1967
Lyrics for May This be Love
Grey Goose of Silence
Performer: Music composed by Ann Mortifee
Date: 1975
The Grey Goose of Silence is a ballet choregraphed by Canadian Norbert Vesak for the North Carolina Dance Theatre. The music for the ballet includes a recording of a waterfall, that, according to Jane Corey in Exploring the Waterfalls of North Carolina, was made at Stone Mountain Falls.75
This is the only music recording I know of that has a direct relationship with a North Carolina waterfall.
Waterfall
Performer: Carly Simon
Date: 1975
Lyrics for Waterfall by Carly Simon
Waterfall
Performer: Electric Light Orchestra (ELO)
Date: 1975
I have a special affinity for this one—a beautiful song by my favorite band of all time. What’s crazy is that I’ve only recently become aware of it (thanks, Alecia).
Lyrics for Waterfall by ELO
Waterfalls
Performer: Paul McCartney
Date: 1980
Lyrics for Waterfalls by Paul McCartney
Waterfalls
Performer: TLC
Date: 1994
It’s a good song, but TLC totally plagiarized Paul McCartney’s “Waterfalls” in the chorus.
Lyrics for Waterfalls by TLC
