RIVER OF NO RETURN (Soundtrack)


Songs from the film "River Of No Return" (1954)
Starring Robert Mitchum and Marilyn Monroe
All songs: Music by Lionel Newman / Lyrics by Ken Darby







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RIVER OF NO RETURN
Performed by Tennessee Ernie Ford


(No return, no return, no return, no return)

There is a river called the River of No Return (No return)
Sometimes it's peaceful and sometimes wild and free
Love is a trav'ler on the River of No Return (No return, no return)
Swept on for ever to be lost in the stormy sea

Wail-a-ree (Wail-a-ree)
I can hear the river call (No return, no return )
Where the roarin' waters fall
Wail-a-ree (Wail-a-ree)
I can hear my lover call "Come to me" (No return, no return )

I lost my love on the river 
And for ever my heart will yearn (No return, no return)
Gone, gone for ever down the River of No Return (No return)
Wail-a-ree, wail-a-re-e-ee
She'll never return to me 
(No return, no return, no return, no return, no return........FADE )


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ONE SILVER DOLLAR
Performed by Marilyn Monroe

One silver dollar, bright silver dollar
Changing hands, changing hands

Endlessly rollin', wasted and stolen
Changing hands, changing hands

Spent for a baby's trinket
Won by a gambler's lust
Pierced by an outlaw's bullet
And lost in the blood red dust

One silver dollar, bright silver dollar
Changing hands, changing hands

Love is a shining dollar
Bright as a church bell's chime
Gambled and spent and wasted
And lost in the dust of time

Ooh-aah-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh

One silver dollar, worn silver dollar
Changing hearts, changing lives, changing hands


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I'M GONNA FILE MY CLAIM
Performed by Marilyn Monroe

I've looked around the country and I've seen it all
And what I want, I'm ready to name
It's big and strong and handsome and it's six feet tall
I'm gonna file my claim

I struck a real bonanza at his ruttin' ranch
But what he's got I'm ready to take
He's worth a fancy fortune, but it's not in cash
I'm gonna file my claim

I got the fever, oooohhh the fever
But not for gold in the ground
I want the title to somethin' vital
That I can throw my fences around

A gal should never hustle with a pickin' pan
To dig for gold, that isn't her game
I find the man that's found it, then I get that man
Who's gonna help me file my claim
I gotta file my claim

Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, lookin' for nuggets?
Uuummmmm, mush!
A-B-C-D, who's gonna file me under love
There ain't a man, not a single man

There ain't a man alive who wouldn't trade his gold
For what it takes to stay in the game
So, have it filed and spend it 'fore you get too old
Who's gonna help me file my claim
Who's gonna help me, help, help me
Who's gonna help me file my claim........tonight!


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DOWN IN THE MEADOW
Performed by Marilyn Monroe


When Mister South Wind sighs in the pine
Old Mister Winter whimpers and whines
Down in the meadow, under the snow
April is teachin' green things to grow

When Mister West Wind hums in the glade
Old Mister Summer nods in the shade
Down in the meadow, under the brook
Catfish are waitin' for the hook

Old Lady Blackbird flirts with the scarecrow
Scarecrow is wavin' at the Moon
Old Mister Moon makes hearts ev'rywhere
Go bump, bump with the magic of June

When Mister East Wind shouts overhead
Then all the leaves turn yellow and red
Down in the meadow, corn stocks are high
Pumpkins are ripe and ready for pie


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DOWN IN THE MEADOW (Reprise)
Performed by Marilyn Monroe

Old Lady Blackbird flirts with the scarecrow
Scarecrow is wavin' at the Moon
Old Mister Moon makes hearts ev'rywhere
Go bump, bump with the magic of June

When Mister North Wind rolls on the breeze
Old Father Christmas trims all the trees
Down in the meadow, snow softly gleams
Earth goes to sleep and smiles in her dreams


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RIVER OF NO RETURN (Reprise)
Performed by Marilyn Monroe

Umm-umm-umm
If you listen you can hear it call, wail-a-ree (Wail-a-ree)

There is a river called the River of No Return
Sometimes it's peaceful and sometimes wild and free
Love is a trav'ler on the River of No Return
Swept on for ever to be lost in the stormy sea (Wail-a-ree)

I can hear the river call (No return, no return )
No return, no return (Where the roarin' waters fall)
(Wail-a-ree) I can hear my lover call "Come to me"
(No return, no return )

I lost my love on the river 
And for ever my heart will yearn
Gone, gone for ever down the River of No Return
Wail-a-ree (Wail-a-ree), wail-a-re-ee-eee
He'll never return to me (No return, no return)
Never!


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All songs transcribed by Mel Priddle - November 2009)