I just read a newspaper article about this song this week. I guess it gets a lot of airplay this time of year. They said that Joni wrote it while dealing with her breakup with Graham Nash.

I loved "River" from the time I first heard it on her album "Blue," back in '76. (I think the album came out in '71. ) "Blue" is one of those albums that I've got both LP and CDs of.
I wonder why it's taken 30+ years for it to become popular. Robert Downey, Jr. sang it in "Ally McBeal" a few years ago, and it's on the Ally McBeal Christmas CD.
Last night, it was used at the end of "ER," and the lyrics fit perfectly with what was on screen.
Great songabsolute perfection.

Beautiful! I appreciate it, MoonsofJupiter. Judging from the lyrics, this is probably the song I keep hearing. Thanks again.

This is the only Christmassy song I know of by Joni Mitchell. If there are any others, I'd like to hear about them too.
River
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
I wis16d0h I had a river
I could skate away on
I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I made my baby cry
He tried hard to help me
You know, he put me at ease
And he loved me so naughty
Made me weak in the knees
Oh 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
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
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