Run with the River

Moving back home to Philly from LA was quite a change. In the course of looking for Music Therapy work, my friend Lynn Miller employed me as a co-therapist with Eric Reinhardt, who had also just moved to the area from New York.

Working with adult psychiatric groups, Eric played guitar while I played keyboard. We played a wide range of songs from Gershwin's "Summertime" and Elvis Presley's "All Shook Up" to James Taylor's "You've Got a Friend". Together we watched transformation after transformation happen right before our eyes.

The groups were diagnosed with depression, accompanied by anxiety and tiredness. Often slumped over in their chairs as we began with our greeting song, the group members were seen rising to an upright position, singing, dancing and playing percussion instruments within the hour as we progressed to our goodbye song. It was a wonderful feeling knowing that music could change lives.

During our improvisations, Eric and I realized we were well-matched to co-write original songs, leading to Run with the River which utilizes some especially vivid imagery, as seen in the lyrics: "Evening sky shining like diamonds on the river". The song speaks of the river being the essence of life, and how life goes by so quickly, while we too often take our days for granted.

Run with the River communicates the longing for a relationship to continue with warm embraces, a timeless gaze and to take these hearts and run, run with the River of Life.

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Credits

Piano: Angela Falco
Vocals: Matt Spitko, Susan Lake, Jay Davidson
Harmonica/ Organ: Jay Davidson
Guitar: Juan Kamuca
Bass: Chico Huff
Drums: David Uosikkinen
Written by Angela Falco (ASCAP), Eric Reinhardt © 2008
Produced by Jay Davidson
Recorded at Elm Street Studios, Conshohocken, PA
Engineered by John O. Senior
Mixed by Chris Zurzolo at Medicine Man Studios, Bala Cynwyd, PA, with Jay Davidson, Angela Falco
Mastered by Nathan James, The Vault Mastering Studios, NYC & Phoenix, AZ