Few songs in movie history have ever matched the spirit of Carly Simon’s iconic 1988 anthem, “Let the River Run,” the theme song from the feature film Working Girl.
Written as an ode to female ambition and determination, the track quickly took on a life of its own far beyond the big screen. Yet while millions of fans sing along with its legendary chorus, few realize the massive, record-breaking feat the song pulled off behind the scenes.
The song instantly became the ultimate anthem for anyone chasing a big dream. But behind the scenes, Simon completely rewrote the history books, pulling off a staggering award-show streak that remains untouched to this day.
According to newsperson Dan Rather‘s Substack, “Let the River Run” allowed the singer and songwriter to “win the movie theme trifecta — Academy Award, Golden Globe, and Grammy — for a song created entirely by one person.”
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Simon’s website shared her thoughts about the song. It shared that she first read the script for Working Girl and was inspired by the story of an ambitious young woman’s determination to break through the corporate glass ceiling, starring Melanie Griffith and Harrison Ford.
“Carly has stated that she found inspiration for the lyrics by first reading the original script and then by the poems of Walt Whitman. Musically, she wanted to write a hymn to New York with a contemporary jungle beat under it, so as to juxtapose those opposites in a compelling way,” the statement read.
The statement continued, “A version of this song, with slightly modified lyrics, was used in a USPS commercial shortly after September 11th. The phrases ‘Silver Cities Rise’ and ‘The New Jerusalem’ seem to have taken on a new meaning for many people, but the song was not originally composed with any particular political and/or religious overtones.”
Simon won an Academy Award in 1989 for “Let the River Run.” She said in her acceptance speech, “This is for you, Mike [Nichols, the film’s director]. You are really the guardian angel tonight.”
“Thank you to my husband Jim Hart for writing the best lines in the song [the couple divorced in 2007],” the musician continued. “To 20th Century Fox, Clive Davis, and everyone at Arista. My children. If you found a television set on that island where you are, your mom is really proud.”
The song’s same unshakeable spirit feels even more poignant today. In a candid statement opening up about her Parkinson’s diagnosis to PEOPLE Magazine in July 2026, Simon reminded fans that while illness can alter a life, music remains a sanctuary.
She said, “Working on the music [for her new LP Comes in Waves] gave shape to days that did not always have much shape. It gave me somewhere to go without having to leave the room. It reminded me that illness can change your life without becoming the whole of your life.”
This sentiment echoes through every soaring note of “Let the River Run”. Decades after crafting the anthem to celebrate overcoming obstacles. Its message of inner strength and perseverance feels like a living testament to Carly Simon’s strength and tenacity, 38 years after the song’s release.
Related: 1977 Sultry Carly Simon Hit Was Blocked From Reaching No. 1 by a Song People Loved to Hate
