5 Chords used in the song: Em, G, D, C, Am
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View these chords for the Baritone
Transpose chords:
INTRO: Em G D C Em G C
VERSE 1:
Em G D C
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
CHORUS:
Em C D G
We'd go down to the river, and into the river we'd dive
Em C D C
Oh, oh, down to the river we'd ride
VERSE 2:
Em G D C
Then I got Mary pregnant, and man that was all she wrote
Em G C G
And for my nineteenth 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 G C
No wedding day smiles, no walk down the aisle, no flowers, no wedding dress
CHORUS:
Em C D G
That night we went down to the river and into the river we'd dive
Em C D C
Oh, oh, down to the river we did ride
HARMONICA SOLO (verse chords): Em G D C Em G C G C G D Em Am G C
VERSE 3:
Em G D C
I got a job working construction, for the Johnstown company
Em G C G
But lately there ain't been much work, on account of the economy
C G D Em
Now, all them things that seemed so important, 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
VERSE 4:
Em G D C
But I remember us riding in my brother's car, her body tan and wet down at the reservoir
Em G C G
At night on them banks I'd lie awake, and pull her close just to feel each breath she'd take
C G D Em
Now those memories come back to haunt me, they haunt me like a curse
Am G C
Is a dream a lie if it don't come true, or is it something worse
CHORUS:
Em C D G
That sends me down to the river, though I know the river is dry
Em C D C
That sends me down to the river tonight
CHORUS:
Em C D G
Down to the river, my baby and I
Em C D C
oh, oh, down to the river we ride
ENDING (chorus chords to fade): Em C D G Em C D C
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About this song: The River
"The River" became a centerpiece of shows on some Springsteen tours. On the 'Born in the U.S.A.' tour, it was often preceded by a long, intense story from Springsteen about his battles with his father growing up, that would sometimes conclude in a good ending and sometimes not; the silence after the story would then be interrupted by the start of the harmonica part. Read more on Last.fm.