The River (intro) (midi) (sample)

Em - G - D - C - Am - G - C

Em G D C

1. I come from down in the valley, where, mister, when you're young,

Em G C G

they bring you up to do like your daddy done.

C G D Em

Me and Mary, we met in high school when she was just seventeen,

Am G C

we'd drive out of this valley down to where the fields were green.

- - - - - - Em C D G

We'd go down to the river, and into the river we'd dive,

Em C D - C

oh, down to the river we'd ride.

Em G D C

2. Then I got Mary pregnant, and, man, that was all she wrote,

Em G C G

and for my 19th birthday, I got a union card and a wedding coat.

C G D Em

We went down to the courthouse, and the judge put it all to rest,

Am

no wedding day smiles, no walk down the aisle,

G C

no flowers, no wedding dress.

Em C D G

That night we went down to the river, and into the river we'd dive,

Em C D - C

oh, down to the river we'd ride.

+ 1 full verse as instrumental

Em G D C

3. I got a job working construction with the Johnstown Company,

Em G C G

but lately there ain't been much work on account of the economy.

C

Now all them things that seemed so important,

G D Em

well, mister, they vanished right into the air,

Am G C

now I just act like I don't remember, Mary acts like she don't care.

Em G

4. But I remember us riding in my brother's car,

D C

her body tanned and wet down at the reservoir,

Em G

at night on them banks I'd lie awake,

C G

and pull her close just to feel each breath she'd take.

C

Now those memories come back to haunt me,

G D Em

they haunt me like a curse.

Am

Is a dream a lie, if it don't come true,

G C

or is it something worse, that sends me …

Em C D G

Down to the river, though I know the river is dry,

Em C D - C

that sends me down to the river tonight.

Em C D G

Down to the river, my baby and I,

Em C D - C

oh, down to the river we ride.

+ Em - C - D - G - Em - C - D - C (2x) ….

(Bruce Springsteen)