Live record on Jimmy Kimmel Show!

All cred to Kaleo!

KALEO – Break My Baby [Live on Jimmy Kimmel]

KALEO - My Gun

Backdoor by Kaleo live on lollapallooza !!

Kaleo - Backdoor [Live version]

KALEO - Lonely Cowboy (LIVE in the Colosseum)

KALEO - Vor í Vaglaskógi (LIVE at Þjóðhátíð í Vestmanneyjum 2024 Festival in Iceland)

One More Glass of Wine


Laughing at the Riverside is a nostalgic indie rock ballad that captures the emotional texture of a summer evening reunion among old friends. Set by the riverbank at dusk, the song explores themes of memory, time, and quiet connection. Through poetic verses and a melancholic male baritone voice, the lyrics reflect on shared stories, lost moments, and the bittersweet beauty of aging friendships. The chorus, anchored by the line “Laughing at the Riverside,” evokes a sense of timeless joy and emotional release. Instrumental sections—ranging from ambient intros to orchestral crescendos—mirror the emotional arc of the night, making the song feel cinematic and deeply personal.

---

🎵 Laughing at the Riverside
Lyrics by Martin Oliver Beinersdorf

[Intro – Twilight Pulse (0:00–0:45)  
Soft piano arpeggios in low register.  
Muted bass pulses gently.  
Ambient pads with tremolo shimmer.  
Delay-washed electric guitar textures.  
No drums yet, slow emotional build.  
Mood: dusky summer evening, anticipation, warmth.]

Verse 1  
We parked the cars by the willow bend  
Sun bleeding out like a quiet friend  
You brought the cheap wine, I brought the old jokes  
Someone lit a fire, someone almost choked  

The river moved like it knew our names  
Skipping stones, trading old mistakes  
You said, “Remember that night in June?”  
I said, “I barely remember you”  

Pre-Chorus  
But the laughter came easy, like it used to  
And the silence felt softer than truth  

Chorus  
Laughing at the Riverside  
Where the past comes back but never bites  
We were ghosts in denim and light  
Laughing at the Riverside  
Like nothing ever changed  
Like everything was right  

[Instrumental Bridge – Echoes in the Current (2:10–2:40)  
Drums enter with off-kilter rhythm (5/4).  
Muted trumpet and trombone add melancholic accents.  
Dissonant guitar chords slowly resolve.  
Synth sweeps mimic water movement.  
Mood: flickering memories, emotional tension.]

Verse 2  
You played that song from senior year  
It cracked like vinyl, but we all cheered  
The moon hung low like a borrowed time  
And someone cried without a sign  

We talked of jobs, of kids, of loss  
Of how we all got a little lost  
But no one judged, and no one lied  
We just let the river decide  

Chorus  
Laughing at the Riverside  
Where the past comes back but never bites  
We were ghosts in denim and light  
Laughing at the Riverside  
Like nothing ever changed  
Like everything was right  

[Instrumental Interlude – Denim Ghosts (3:30–4:10)  
Strings (violin, cello) play a nostalgic theme.  
Piano repeats intro motif, higher and fragile.  
Slide guitar adds emotional texture.  
No drums, ambient bass carries the mood.  
Mood: time suspended, quiet reflection.]

Bridge  
The fire burned down to a whisper  
And I wished I’d said more to her  
But maybe that’s the point of nights like these  
You feel too much, and speak too little  

[Build-Up – Firelight Crescendo (4:40–5:10)  
Drums return with driving rhythm.  
Brass and strings swell into crescendo.  
Open guitar chords with tremolo.  
Warm synth pad underneath.  
Mood: emotional climax, shared joy and sorrow.]

Final Chorus  
Laughing at the Riverside  
Where the echoes feel like lullabies  
We were young, we were terrified  
Laughing at the Riverside  
Like nothing ever changed  
Like everything was right  

[Outro – Riverside Fade (5:40–6:20)  
Sparse piano notes like water drops.  
Reverse guitar effects echo memories.  
Slow bass pulse like a heartbeat.  
Field recording: river sounds, distant laughter, crickets.  
Mood: closure, memory lingering, peace.]

---

© Lyrics and concept by Martin Oliver Beinersdorf. All rights reserved.

KALEO – Break My Baby [Live on Jimmy Kimmel]

Markus Johansson

Related tracks