Down by the River (Albert Hammond song)
“Down by the River” is a song by Albert Hammond. It was released in 1972 as the lead single from his debut album It Never Rains in Southern California. Hammond wrote the song, and it became his first chart hit. When it was re-released in 1975, it became an international hit, reaching the top ten in West Germany and Switzerland and the top twenty in Austria.
The song is told in the first person by Hammond. It describes a camping trip with his lover by a river, where they decide to go swimming. The next day they feel sick after a restless night and go for a morning walk. They see a silver fish lying on its side and wonder how it died. A doctor tells them, “only foolish people go down by the river.” The song also warns about environmental damage if current practices continue, saying the banks could become black and dead and the otter’s resting place could turn into a bare skull.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 18:19 (CET).