Old Rivers Songwriter Cliff Crofford Discusses Old Rivers and Walter Brennan 

Beautiful song , it reminds me of an old Friend, that lived next to us back in the day . He worked with my Grandfather and several of the farmers around the area. He was a super nice man and a hard worker. We all loved Him very much.

Thank you for sharing your story with the world. Knowing it makes Old Rivers that much more special!

My father loved the song Old Rivers . I was at a funeral of an old army friend who died recently his wife had it played at his funeral in Aberdeenshire Scotland . God bless I enjoyed your talk on you tube .

Great Stuff!!! I often listen to OLD Rivers on RU-vid ! It is a tear jerker! CHEERS from Westcoast Canada!

Thank you ❤

Old Rivers goes down in history as one of the most loved and cherished songs of all time. A great number of people shed a tear or two when they hear it. A masterpiece written by Mr. Crofford :-) A superb interview. It should be sent to TV/music industry to be aired on television. Great job by Kristin making his video.

My dear dad passed away this week, aged 95. He loved Walter Brennan and this song, along with Johnny Cash, and other old timers.

This was a lovely tribute to Walter by your Dad. Old Rivers was loved by all you heard it.

I heard this song as a little girl and have always loved it. I am 64 now.

I have always loved, Old Rivers. I am in my 60s, and Old Rivers always brings back good memories. I would love to have a picture of Old Rivers. I enjoyed this video. Wado (thank You) !

This is a great song!..deep meanings

I used to listen to this as a kid. I cried every time I listened to it! And in my mind Walter Brennan is Old Rivers!

A song that makes me cry everytime I hear it. First time was in 1963.

I'm from Tucson. Born and raised. Good song send me down to Tucson Ill get the job done

Hi Mr. Crofford, thank you very much for writing this song, it is a wonderful song and always chokes me up when I sing it. Have a wonderful day and awesome week. Ron

please keep Cliff in your prayers as he's currently not well... what a great guy! he's so modest and kind..it all shows up in the video

Thank you for this video, the song means a lot to many people even today. I would love to have a photo of Old Rivers. Thank you for taking the time to film this piece of Country History. God Bless Mr Cliff, Mr Walter and Old Rivers.

Old Rivers still brings tears to my old eyes, even after listening to it thousands of times. My favorite song of all time.

@CliffCrofford. great would to have a picture of him

Old Rivers stood out in my heart! I was 10 years old. The story was the story, but the Great Walter Brennen, was the teller of the story. I didn’t listen to the story, I listened to Mr. Brennon, telling the story. Even at 10 years old, I recognized Mr.Brennon as a wonderful man. As long as I live, I’ll never forget him. VDEROME ❤❤❤

Brings a tear

Great song

Thank you Mr Crofford for your songs! I play in a band in CT playing all the old favorites of the era and people still love and appreciate the great songs! God bless. And thanks Kristen for sharing your great grandpa with everyone.

I am glad I stumbled upon this! I was looking/listening to various versions of "Catfish John" which made me think about "Old Rivers" which led me to your video. Fortuitous.

It's a beautiful song, whose lyrics touch us all. Thanks for your talent, man, and your love, girl.

love the song , fantastic

I discovered this amazing song - can't stop plying it. A great and sad story to immerse in. The slides are really fitting - someone put a lot of time in this timeless song. Mr. Brennan doesn't sing a single note :-)- Beautiful narration making this amazing song. I love the backing choir - they sing the words a bit after Walter says them in the chorus and their harmony! Thank you Clifford for your incredible song! Kristin - I'm just part of the proof that this song will go on forever.

Thank you sir for this song sir, so very much from the bottom of my heart I believe God inspired your heart and hand to write this song sir, God bless you, your family and friends.

How very special for you and your granddaughter allowing us into your home and meeting the author of this most beautiful, touching song. It's hard to type this through the tears. God bless.

Love to see a picture of old rivers and midnight.

Yes I would like to see a photo of old Rivers!!

Beautiful song.

A Great story from a Great songwriter, Old Rivers is such a wonderful heart felt song, It seems as if i could look out my back door and see him plowing as i listen to this song.. Bless you Mr. Crofford.

I was there back in that day on the farm plowing those rows straight and deep. How can I get a picture of "Old Rivers". Thank you so much for the song. It soothes my soul and takes me back.

Kristin, Thank you for sharing this history, and your great grandad, with us. This song was a favorite of my grandfather, my father and uncles, and myself. It carries the spirit of the farmer and a way of life quickly passing. It was beyond awesome to hear comments from the man who penned this poetry. Best wishes, always.

I had to come back to listen to this fantastic interview one more time. Excellent! 5 stars from here.

Loved this song!!💗💗💗

I am ashamed to say that I have just discovered that Cliff is my town's favorite son. We moved to Rochester TX about 18 months ago and I tripped upon his name, associated with the towns museum and the Trumpet donated by his Family to the Town. I am a keen musician playing guitar and trumpet among many others. I also started performing at the local Country Music circuit and to be honest becoming pretty popular. What I failed to state is that I am an Englishman married to a Texas Lass, so in terms of Country roots I am still learning my way around. Kristin you should be very proud of your Grandfather having watched some of the footage of him he was a very talented gentleman. I would have loved to have spent time with him, learning how a kid from Rochester born during the greta depression made it in the industry - would have been lovely to know. I am sure he is with good company in heaven and his rich legacy will live on forever - God Bless Paul & Linda Oughton, Rochester Tx

Mr Crofford you sure wrote beautiful song when you wrote Old Rivers From the heart and i do not believe anyone could have done a better job than Walter Brennen his voice had a cry in it for real at the end thanks for this song mr crofford thanks for letting mr brennen sing it i think no one could done better brennen can cry this song what heart to you both love it '; t thhanks for

Thanks Cliff. Love that song. Always remember Mr Brennan as Stumpy in Rio Bravo.

You have a wonderful granddaughter! and we love these old tunes.

I used to listen to this song over and over when I was a teenager back in the 1960's. I hope I can get a list somewhere of Cliff's songs sometime. Thanks so much to his great grand-daughter for this great post.

This is a great tribute to a great song writer, Old Rivers is a Classic that will live in my heart forever. It is the most loved song I have ever had the privilege to listen to, I listen to it several times a year. Thank you for posting this story. I am sorry to hear of Cliff Croffords Passing.

Hi, Kristin I've been away from RU-vid for over 2 months. I only just now got back. I am so sorry to hear of your great grand-dad's recent passing. My sincere condolences to you and all of his family and friends. I am very honoured that I had the opportunity earlier this year to converse with him on RU-vid/email with your help. He will be surely missed. PS: Old Rivers is without any doubt a much-loved song and cherished by millions of listeners.

Very difficult to hear or understand Cliff with that music blaring in the background. I wanted to hear what Cliff had to say so sad.

Thank you for posting Kristen. I remember hearing this song when I was just a toddler. I am learning the banjo now and I've selected this song to write the banjo tablature for. I still play this song (why too) often and think of better days when I was very young and great songs like this were heard everyday on the radio. It sends a simple message that everyone is important and will be missed when they are gone. God bless your grandad for writing this song and yourself and family for posting.

I heard this song for the first time last night and just shared it with my husband. He loved it so much he sent it to his 80 year old father

I was seven years old when this came out. It registered then and registers now. God bless and thank you. A more heart-wrenching song I've never heard.

I met Cliff in Wawona in the mid-eighties where he had a vacation cabin. I learned he wrote Old Rivers and was of an age that I remembered both Walter Brennan and the song well. He mentions in the video that he would send a picture of Old Rivers to those interested. I'm sorry to hear that Cliff has passed, but would be interested in getting a copy of that picture just to have a better picture of who Old Rivers was.

Kristin - I came across your video by accident, but just loved it. I liked "Old Rivers" the song a lot. But Mr. Crofford mentioned "Send Me Down To Tucson". That was one of two Mel Tillis records we had and I alway loved it. I always thought it was an underpraised song. Thanks for sharing your video.

Lots of us Rochester exes are on facebook. Tell your greatgrandaughter to look us up and we can connect. If you could just send one of us the picture of ole' rivers, we could scan and share on facebook with all the rochester exes on there..thanks

Kristen, It's been a while since the last comment but I hope you see this. Old Rivers has always been a favorite song of mine and I thought that it showed Mr. Brennan as a good and kind man. Now you have added immeasurably to this with this wonderful video of your father. It is all too rare that we see the composer. Thank you so very much in sharing this with us all. It shows your father to be a wonderful and kind man. I'm sure you are very proud. You have added to those who now can admire the talents of you father as well as those of Walter Brennan.

My all time favorite song. Thank you sir for writing this song. Walter Brennan was the perfect man to sing the song

Cliff was a great songwriter ,musician singer , man . We were blessed by having him create all his wonderful music. there is a new angel in heaven now that he is with our lord god bless him

Yes this song reminds me of my grandfather. He actually was old rivers. Poor and never quit until he passed away

So sorry to hear of Cliffs passing. I am with the Highway 13 Band and our drummer, Rick Brennan played for years with Cliff and Billy Mize at the Foothill on Cherry, in Signal Hill, Ca

Cliff was one of my all time favorite friends. I met him at the Lucky Spot in Bakersfield. Not only was he a great song writer/ singer, I loved his trumpet player. He recorded a song that I can't think of the title but one of the lines: 'If you need anything don't sweat it, mention my name you'll get it but if you old man Jone's you better be ready to run' Ray Nichols played a wonderful intro/solo. I really like the song. I had to have the honor to work with different singers doing his songs. One that comes to mind is: 'Uncle Tom Got Caught with Wynn Stuart.

I used to listed to "Old Rivers" when I was a kid. To this day, I still listen to this album. What a great album. Thise were the days. RIP Cliff and Walter...

Sorry to hear about mr Croffords passing. Seems like he was a nice man.... I f u could send me an e-mail of ur granddads friend I would appreciate it as well. ..Been a fan of the song for over 35yrs, since I was a child,,,God bless

Thank you Cliff……… and thank you Walt. Peace

I would like to have a photo of old rivers

This song became one of my favorites the first time I heard it. I guess I was about 8 years old.

I always loved the song Old Rivers. Send Me Down to Tucson is also my favorite Mel Tillis song. What a talented songwriter.

Well the way (Cliff) puts his words in place on video,no one else could have written Old Rivers,I live in the UK and was a kid when it hit the charts here,always gave me goose pimples,almost poetry. I think Walter Brennan was the only actor to win 3 Oscars,so there is another side of the coin, thanks for the memories Kristin, Jeff.

After all these years, I was a little kid. I'm 50 now and I'm still listening to this

lots of us who grew up in Rochester are watching your video...some of us still live here...we're searching the rochester history book and can find a story about "H" Breeding...is he Ole' Rivers? Rochester Homecoming is Oct. 2010...wish you could come..we'd love to visit with you. I've made a video show from pictures I've collected and scanned since I came back to rochester to teach in '73. Would love to send you a DVD of the show. continued ...

Midnight was the name of the Mule.

I see from the comments that Mr. Crofford has passed away. He seemed like a very nice man and it sounded as though he was at peace when he made this video. He mentioned having a picture of Old Rivers. I take it that the song was based on an actual person?

You should film this again without the music so we can hear him better

I’d love to see old rivers actual picture. The song sends chills down my back.

I wonder if you still send out a picture of "Old Rivers". I don't see where to send Kristin Crofford a message.

Cliff, For us computer challenged folks, what is your e-mail address?

That song is so bad

Great Song