Rio Bravo
Dean Martin · The Lush Years/Relaxin' [Collectors Choice] [2005]
By the river Rio Bravo
I walk all alone
And I wonder as I wander by the river
Where my love has flown?
All the birds in the cottonwood above her
Know I love her, know I care
But my dreams, like the songs, she sang in Spanish
Seem to vanish in the air.
I wonder where.
So I wonder as I wander
Will love come along
Must I live ever after
By the memory of her song.
While the river Rio Bravo flows along.
(Choir: Rio Bravo, Rio Bravo.)
While the river Rio Bravo flows along.
(Choir: Rio Bravo...)
About Rio Bravo
Dean Martin's "Rio Bravo" stands as a quintessential example of his effortless cool, blending the smooth baritone with the classic Western theme. Originally recorded in 1959, the track captures the laid-back, jazz-inflected style that defined the "Dean Martin" persona, distinguishing it from the more aggressive rockabilly of his contemporaries. Featured on the 2005 compilation *The Lush Years/Relaxin' [Collectors Choice]*, this recording highlights his mastery of mid-century pop standards and his ability to deliver a sophisticated interpretation of a song that had previously been associated with country and western music. The performance exemplifies the "cool" aesthetic that made him an enduring icon of American music, showcasing a vocal delivery that was both intimate and commanding.