the riverboat song time signature

The Meaning Behind The Song: The Riverboat Song by Ocean Colour Scene

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“The Riverboat Song” is the lead single and opening track of Ocean Colour Scene’s second album, 1996’s Moseley Shoals. The song helped launch OCS into the mainstream, having been popularised by Chris Evans who used it extensively on the hit TV show, TFI Friday. It eventually reached No. 15 in the UK singles chart.

The song takes its main riff and many lyrics from Led Zeppelin’s “Four Sticks.” This integration of musical elements from Led Zeppelin adds depth and a familiar touch to the song, allowing Ocean Colour Scene to pay homage to their musical influences while creating their own unique sound.

Personally, “The Riverboat Song” holds a special place in my heart. As a teenager in the 90s, I was heavily influenced by the Britpop movement, and Ocean Colour Scene was one of my favorite bands at the time. Their soulful blend of rock and pop resonated with me, and their songs became the soundtrack to my adolescence.

When I first heard “The Riverboat Song,” I was immediately captivated by its infectious energy and catchy hooks. The opening riff drew me in, and Simon Fowler’s powerful vocals took the song to another level. It became one of those songs that I couldn’t help but sing along to, even if I didn’t quite understand the deeper meaning behind the lyrics.

Upon closer examination, “The Riverboat Song” reveals themes of duality and self-reflection. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a river running red, symbolizing a turbulent and conflicted state of mind. The river becomes a metaphor for the complexities of life and the internal struggles that we all face.

In the first verse, the lyrics describe seeing double and observing a riverboat swaying under the sun. This imagery sets the tone for the song, introducing the idea of conflicting perspectives and choices. The reference to a king stalking the wings and shooting a dove, only to free an eagle instead, signifies the struggle between selfishness and nobility, between chasing personal desires and doing what is right.

The pre-chorus emphasizes the cyclical nature of life and decisions, stating that it’s more or less the same as the things that were said. This repetition highlights the idea that history repeats itself, and we often find ourselves facing similar challenges and making similar choices.

In the second verse, the lyrics delve deeper into the consequences of our actions. The trouble up the road represents the aftermath of decisions made based on selfish desires, leading to the loss of love and a sense of cheating on one’s own soul. The best and worst thoughts that lose control reveal the inner turmoil that comes with conflicting desires and the struggle to find balance.

The chorus poses questions about the river not flowing and the river running red. These inquiries speak to a sense of frustration and confusion. Despite all the experiences and knowledge gained, the river remains stagnant and tainted. It raises existential questions about the purpose and meaning of life, and why despite our efforts, we often find ourselves stuck in repetitive patterns.

The third verse continues to explore the complexities of communication and the impact of our words. The failure to express oneself honestly becomes a source of trouble, symbolized by a king stalking the wings and shooting the moon and stars, representing unattainable goals and unrealized dreams.

As the song progresses, the message becomes clear – life is a continuous struggle, filled with contradictions and unanswered questions. We are often torn between conflicting desires, and despite our best efforts, we find ourselves trapped in cycles of repetition.

Yet, despite the underlying melancholy and introspection, “The Riverboat Song” remains an uplifting and anthemic track. Its infectious melody and powerful instrumentation create a sense of liberation and celebration, reminding us that even amidst the complexities of life, there is joy to be found.

In conclusion, “The Riverboat Song” by Ocean Colour Scene is a song that captures the essence of the human condition. It explores themes of duality, self-reflection, and the repetitive nature of life. It is a reminder that despite the challenges we face, there is always hope and a reason to keep moving forward. This song is a testament to the timeless power of music to touch our souls and provide comfort and understanding in times of uncertainty.

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• Backing Track
• Album Moseley Shoals
• Genre Alternative/Indie, Rock
• Drummer Oscar Harrison
• Time Signature 4/4
• Difficulty NA

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Understanding Time Signatures

Read Time: 5 Minutes

What Are Time Signatures in Music?

A time signature tells us the structure of the beat or the pulse of a piece of music. They tell us how many beats are in a bar, and how those beats might be grouped together into “strong” and “weak”, and they also provide some context for how we can expect the written notation to look. 

How to Read Time Signatures

A time signature has two parts: 

• The top number, which tells us how many beats are in a bar 
• The bottom number, which tells us the note value of each beat

There are two types of time signature: simple and compound. 

Simple: A simple time signature will usually have either a 2, 3 or 4 as the top number. It will also usually have a 4 as the bottom number, which tells us that each beat is equal to a one-quarter note (one crotchet).  For example, the 4/4 time signature will have 4 beats worth one-quarter note in every bar. 

Compound:  A compound time signature will usually have the number, 6, 9 or 12 as the top number, and an 8 as the bottom number. This tells us two things: each beat is equal to one-eighth note (one quaver), and they are structured in groups of three. 

For example, the 6/8 time signature has 6 beats, each beat is equal to one eighth note, and they are split into two groups of three. 

Common Types of Time Signatures

Save or bookmark this page so you can use it as a time signature chart to reference later! 

2/4 Time Signature

This is like a marching time signature, “1, 2, 1, 2” or “left, right, left, right”. 

There are two crotchet beats in a bar, and they are both strong (though the first is slightly stronger than the second). 

Because there are two beats, it is called “duple time” or “duple meter”, so it would be “simple duple time”. 

As an example, here’s a playlist of classical marching tunes:

3/4 Time Signature

Also known as the waltz time signature, this one has 3 quarter note beats. The first beat is the strongest, while the next one is slightly weaker and the third is even weaker. “Oom pah pah, oom pah pah”. 

As there are 3 beats, it is called “triple” time. 

This time signature fell out of fashion in popular music and is now mainly associated with classical music. 

It was more popular around the 60s-80s – here’s Elvis for an example: 

4/4 Time Signature

This is also sometimes called “common time” in the classical world, and it’s the most commonly used time signature. 

The first beat is the strongest, with the 3rd slightly less strong. 

4 beats means this is “quadruple time”. 

You don’t need to go far to find examples of this, but here’s a classic from Scott Joplin: 

6/8 Time Signature

This time signature has two groups of three eighth-note beats. The first note is the strongest, and the fourth is also quite strong, while the rest are weak. “1-and-a 2-and-a”. 

It is often confused with the 3/4 time signature, but the 6/8 time signature is actually “duple” time – it has two strong beats, just like 2/4! 

Here’s an example from everyone’s favorite rockstars – Queen: 

12/8 Time Signature

Following what we’ve learned from 6/8, this time signature has four groups of three eighth notes. “1-and-a 2-and-a 3-and-a 4-and-a”. 

It’s quadruple time, and quite similar to 4/4! 

A much-loved example of this is Tears for Fears’ 1985 hit “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”: 

Irregular Time Signatures

What happens if we have an odd number on the top of our time signature? 

These time signatures are called “irregular”. They most commonly appear in jazz and classical, but you’ll see them in other genres too.  Examples might include: 

These types of time signatures generally split their beats into groups of two and three. 

For instance, a song in 5/8 might go something like “1-and-a 2-and, 1-and-a 2-and”, where the first and fourth beats are the strong ones. 

The jazz hit “Take Five” by the Dave Brubeck Quartet is a very famous example of this pattern: 

While there are two strong beats in 5/4 and 5/8, they aren’t considered “duple time” because the strong beats aren’t equal in length. Instead, it is called “quintuple time”, and time signatures with 7 beats are called “septuple time”. 

How To Change Time Signature

Time signatures can change at any point in a composition. It’s quite common to add single bars of 2/4 in 4/4 to create interesting variations in phrase length. 

In order to change the time signature, we just put the new one at the start of the bar. Easy! 

We can also switch between regular and irregular time signatures. Check out this example from Snarky Puppy – at 1:51 it switches from 4/4 to 7/8 in a pattern of 2+2+3. 

To wrap up, here are the main points to remember about time signatures: 

• They tell us the structure of the pulse of our music. 
• The top number tells us how many beats are in a bar. 
• The bottom number tells us whether those are a quarter note (4) or eighth note (8) in length. 
• Simple time signatures have a top number of 2, 3 or 4. 
• Compound time signatures have a top number of 6, 9 or 12, and their beats are grouped together in threes. 
• Irregular time signatures have an odd number on top.

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