Joni Mitchell‘s song, “River,” originally appeared on her 1971 album, Blue. Though never released as a single, it’s become one of her most famous compositions, and around the holidays, something of a standard.

Set at the start of the Christmas season, “River” finds Mitchell singing of folks “cutting down trees” and “singing songs of joy and peace.” But the demise of a recent romance (which she admits was her doing) has her wishing for a river she “could skate away on.” The wistful song is bookended with a musical nod to “Jingle Bells.”

Many vocal fans of Joni Mitchell have covered “River” on record, from Sarah McLachlan and k.d. lang to Herbie Hancock (with an assist from Corinne Bailey Rae). Even Robert Downey, Jr. turned in a surprisingly good rendition for an Ally McBeal Christmas-themed soundtrack in 2000. The list is nearly as long as the river is wide, and this year, the song features on new holiday discs from Sixpence None The Richer and Rosie Thomas.

One of my favorite covers of “River” comes from across the pond. Scotland’s Travis offers a pretty faithful take, with frontman Fran Healy adding just a touch more fragility to Mitchell’s already powerful first-person narration. Hear here:

Purchase Travis’ version of “River” (taken from the compilation, Christmas Calling) via iTunes or Amazon.