Riverboat (sample)

D - G - D - G - D - G - D - A

D G

1. Well, I spent the better part of my life

D A

on a Mississippi riverboat,

D G

and I used to be known from coast to coast

D A D

as the slickest gambler afloat.

G D

I dealt the cards from Minnesota

A D

to the harbour at New Orleans,

G D

I made a lot of big money on a Riverboat,

G D - D7

and met a lot of pretty Riverboat queens.

G D G D G D

Riverboat, Riverboat I love your whistle’s wail,

G D G D G D

I wish I was back on the Riverboat instead of in a Memphis jail.

+ D - G - D - G - D - G - D - A

D G

2. Oh, a big man got on the riverboat,

D A

our last time in St Paul,

D G

he had a lot of money but his luck ran bad,

D - A D

and the Riverboat won it all.

G D

He said I dealt from the bottom of the deck,

A D

and he pulled a shiny knife,

G D

but before that gambler lunged at me,

G D - D7

my 44 took his life.

G D G D G D

Riverboat, Riverboat I love your whistle’s wail,

G D G D G D

I wish I was back on the Riverboat instead of in a Memphis jail.

+ D - G - D - G - D - G - D - A

D G

3. Well, they came on the boat and they took me to jail,

D A

when we got to Tennessee,

D G

a gambling man has very few friends,

D A D

guess nobody cared for me.

G D

So I might be here for a many long year,

A D

but if I ever get out,

G D

I'm going to head straight for that levy and get me

G D - D7

a riverboat heading south.

G D G D G D

Riverboat, Riverboat I love your whistle’s wail,

G D G D G D

I wish I was back on the Riverboat instead of in a Memphis jail.

G D

+ Instead of in a Memphis jail.

(orig. = capo 2nd) (Faron Young)