I Am a River

Last updated
"I Am a RIver"
Foo Fighters - I Am a River.jpg
Promotional single by Foo Fighters
from the album Sonic Highways
Released2015
Studio Magic Shop (New York City)
Genre Alternative rock
Length7:09
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Foo Fighters singles chronology
"Outside"
(2015)
"I Am a RIver"
(2015)
"Saint Cecilia"
(2015)
Music video
"I Am a River" on YouTube

"I Am a River" is a song by the American rock band Foo Fighters. It was released on their 2014 album Sonic Highways .

Contents

Composition and lyrics

The song was written in New York, with lyrics talking about the "Intricate" [1] references to the city's musical history.

Reception

When reviewing Sonic Highways for Pitchfork, critic Stuart Berman wrote it was a "gaudy Macy’s Day Parade of a power ballad that, just when you think can’t get any more overblown, piles on a false ending and string-section finale". [2]

Live performances

It has only been played live twice, once during their performance at the Irving Plaza in New York in 2014 and again on the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in 2014. [3] [4]

Credits and personnel

Credits taken from the Sonic Highways liner notes: [5]

Foo Fighters

Additional musicians

Technical personnel

Charts

2014-2016 weekly chart performance for "I Am a River"
Chart (2014-2016)Peak
position
Finland Airplay (Radiosoittolista) [6] 61
Poland AirPlay Top (PSPI) [7] 25
UK Rock & Metal (OCC) [8] 15
US Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard) [9] 50

References

  1. Blistein, Jon (2014-12-29). "Dave Grohl Details Stories Behind 'The River'" . Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2020-09-26. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
  2. Berman, Stuart. "Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2025-06-29.
  3. Blistein, Jon (2014-12-19). "See Foo Fighters Lead an Orchestra on 'Tonight Show'" . Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2025-06-29.
  4. "Foo Fighters Tour Statistics | setlist.fm". www.setlist.fm. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
  5. Sonic Highways (CD liner notes). Foo Fighters. New York City: RCA Records. 2014. 88843-09008-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. "Foo Fighters - I Am a River". ifpi.fi. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  7. "Lista Przebojów Trójki". Archived from the original on December 9, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  8. "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
  9. "Foo Fighters Chart History (Mexico Ingles Airplay)". Billboard . Penske Media Corporation . Retrieved June 28, 2025.

I Am a River at Discogs (list of releases)