SINGLE REVIEW: MY GIRL THE RIVER - NO MORE I LOVE YOUS

It was in a support slot with Sorrel Nation, that #TEAMw21 first crossed paths with My Girl The River. Much like the cover picture they were quietly unassuming, in contrast to the high quality of their catalogue. They closed the show with a cover, one that Joe Hughes had co-written back in the day - it was then they unleashed "No More I Love Yous"

Obviously, a big hit for Annie Lennox, which was hopefully a nice addition to the bank balance, the original was made by The Lover Speaks of whom Joe was a member. Not wishing to make anyone feel ancient but this song is now 40 years old!!!!To celebrate this anniversary My Girl The River are bringing out the own Americana take on it and this one is a family affair, with Joe playing guitar and backing vocals while the band’s front woman Kris Wilkinson Hughes takes the lead vocal, with their daughter Rue adding her own backing vocals.

For this version the familiar recurring "Do-do Do-do Do-do do - whoah" refrain is opens the song and is only accompanied by a lightly strummed guitar. When Kris does join, it is clearly with the intention to lay down her version rather than trying to emulate Annie Lennox and it works wonderfully.

The song bemoans the perceived lack of "I Love You" songs at the time and the songs fortuitous route to Annie Lennox via Joe working as a carpenter on Dave Stewart's houseboat is something rarely seen outside of a Hollywood movie, yet here we are!

"I used to be a lunatic from the gracious days

I used to feel woebegone and so restless nights

My aching heart would bleed for you to see

Oh, but now (I don't find myself bouncing home)

(Whistling buttonhole tunes to make me cry)"

The final two lines, on the face of it, being delivered to one of the most clunkiest awkward passages ever recorded, yet somehow it works without question. It does of course help that it leads to a rich warm chorus, with Kris being backed by that family choir

"No more I love you's

The language is leaving me

No more I love you's

Changes are shifting outside the words"

It is a beautifully realised project, and anyone who has ever loved a version of this song should certainly give this version a spin which feels like a glorious homecoming. If nothing else, it may act as a gateway for checking out more work by My Girl The River, it is a journey well worth taking.

Single Release: Thursday, 18 September 2025

Pre save Link https://ffm.to/nomoreiloveyous