I WISH I COULD RUN LIKE A RIVER
Click PLAY. Hold cursor over scrolling text. Move off when vocal begins.
On a cell phone: Tap to stop text. Tap PLAY/PAUSE to match text with audio.
(Headphones or earbuds are highly encouraged).
"I have missed your clever lyrics, your kind but haunting voice and your guitar skills. You are by far the best
songwriter I have ever known. Your songs fill my soul." - Julie Buck (world class vocalist)
"You kick ass, Doug. Extremely great songwriter, singer, and composer." - James Pendroy
"I hope everyone can see the magic in your music. You are one of a kind." - Crystal Thompson - (longtime listener)
"One of my favorite singer/songwriters. A voice nobody can even come close to!" - P. Pasten
"It is power music that heals my soul." - Saw Yu Nandar (Myanmar)
I wrote my first song on the banks of this river back when The Dead Sea was still feeling pretty good.
I was 17.
Since then many have insisted my songs should be heard by a broader audience.
This website is my attempt to do that but I’m also including a tip container so I suppose it could be called “online busking”.
Instead of struggling to hear in a busy public environment you are free to download the songs and listen whenever and wherever you want. If you want.
Use of headgear is highly encouraged.
I hope you will take a moment to also check out some photos and other writings.
All content on this site is original.
If you find value here and want to help me out I respectfully invite you to
If you have given me the gift of listening I will always be grateful to you for that.
– Doug Olson –
(Please scroll down and leave a comment if you like.)
ขอบคุณสำหรับบทเพลงที่ไพเราะฟังแล้วรู้สึกเบาสบายและมีความสุขหวังว่าจะมีหลายคนที่ชื่นชอบเช่นเดียวกันกับฉันและตอบกลับในสิ่งดีเช่นเดียวกันที่คุณมอบให้ฉันขอให้คุณจงมีแต่ความสุขตลอดไปเช่นกัน
Oh, my gosh! You are such a genius! I love your mind, your music, and your sister! Lol…It is so good that you are sharing your wonderful gifts in perfect timing. Beautiful work, Doug. Xo
Ohh, and the deep photography! What a beautiful soul you are. The photo of Doris made me cry. I love her.
Thank you for the kind words.
It’s a vastly fantastic experience, this thing called life.
Wow, your site has improved immensely in the last couple of days. Thrilled to see my favorite songs included!! Beautiful photos.
Thank you very much and I’m glad you noticed the changes. Since I had no real experience in designing a website the learning curve has been HUGE! I plan to keep adding content so check back once in a while. And USE HEADGEAR!
So happy you have finally done this. You know your family adores you and your music. I hope everyone can see the magic in your music 🎶. You are one of a kind; an amazing friend and musician/songwriter. Never stop Doug.
Thank you for your very kind words. They mean a lot, especially coming from somebody who has appreciated my songs since the last millennium. Please share this website with everybody you think might find some value in it. I’m grateful to you.
“My Poor Four-Tired Friend”
What a great song you’ve written about an automobile, in this case a van. We’ve all had a car – maybe our first, second, or even our last car that kept on rolling on a wing and a prayer. You’ve chronicled its service to the owner with humor and heart.
Thanks for listening! I guess I will never be certain whether My Poor Four-Tired Friend was used on an episode of Car Talk. Memories of driving that 1969 Ford Econoline feel as if it happened twenty lifetimes ago. I’m grateful to receive your comments.
Nice to hear your guitar & voice again ❤️ i like the river song….sweet! Doug, I always think of you when listening to ” When you say nothing at all” Hope you & family are well. Happy Spring & 2025. frannie
Thanks Frannie. I am always grateful to know I am thought of once in a while. I hope you are doing very well these days.
Doug, you write insanely great lyrics and your soulful voice and masterful guitar playing all work together to create beautiful vignettes that transport us to the places you sing about. Thanks for taking us there. Nice job on the website too! No easy feat.
Such kind and genuine words from a world class songwriter/singer mean more to me than I can say. And yes, figuring out how to build a website with no prior experience was quite a challenge. It’s a good thing I innately love challenges. Thank you, really.
So generous of you to share your songs, I hope others are donating what they can to show support for you! How can I pass your website along? Is there a way to share it on FB and other social media platforms? I’m not a real techy but would like to help spread your songs across the globe!
Thanks for the kind comments.
I gave many hundreds of CD’s and MP3’s away over the years and almost always refused offers of payment. It feels a little ironic because I put in SO many hours trying to make this website look good and be functional but I can’t generate much participation now when it would really help me out.
So YES please share the link https://www.theriversong.org on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Sound Cloud, email, SMS, WhatsApp, LINE, etc.
And when you share it please ask your friends to share it with their friends who might ask their friends to share it with their friends!
Maybe if an exponential effect occurs I can buy my girlfriend’s 82 year old mother a used cell phone so they can talk each evening.