written by Joni Mitchell



It's coming on Christmas

They're cutting down trees

They're putting up reindeer

And singing songs of joy and peace

Oh I wish I had a river I could skate away on

But it don't snow here

It stays pretty green

I'm going to make a lot of money

Then I'm going to quit this crazy scene

Oh I wish I had a river

I could skate away on



Oh I wish I had a river so long

I would teach my feet to fly

Oh I wish I had a river

I made my baby cry.



He tried hard to help me

He put me at ease

Lord, he loved me so naughty

Made me weak in the knees

I wish I had a river I could skate away on

I'm so hard to handle

I'm selfish and I'm sad

Now I've gone and lost the best baby

That I ever had

I wish I had a river

I could skate away on



Oh I wish I had a river so long

I would teach my feet to fly

Oh I wish I had a river

I made my baby say goodbye



It's coming on Christmas

They're cutting down trees

They're putting up reindeer

And singing songs of joy and peace

I wish I had a river

I could skate away on.