"Moody River" is a song written by and originally performed by country rockabilly singer Chase Webster (real name Gary Daniel Bruce, not to be confused with Gary Bruce of The Knack). Pat Boone recorded and released his own version in May 1961, where it reached number-one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart the following month. This was the title track from one of Boone's better-selling albums. Boone sang this song as if he were in pain.