Band The The River Hymn Lyrics

The River Hymn Lyrics

(the | means a new measure and the / means the bass note on the current
chord.)

 

 [piano intro slow gospel thang]

 

 Starts 3/4

 

 Improv/no time

 F  |bb		       |f/c	      |d-    |d- /d /e |

 The ladies would put the baskets on the table

 F		  |bb/c 	|d-	     |g- / f/a

 And the men would sit beneath a shady tree

 |bb 	   |f/c        |d-     |d-/c  |

 The children would listen to a fable

 Bb	      |a-		   |4/4 g7  |/ | meter

 While something else came through to	 me

 |f    bb	  |f/c bb/d    |f     bb       |f/c  bb/d

 The river got no end,    just roll around the bend

 |f      bb      |f/c	    bb	    |f	  |bb

 Then pretty soon the women would all join in

 |f        |f

 On the river hymn...

 

 |c/g 	/e	  |/c	   /	  |f/a	/      |f/f / |

 The whole congregation was standing on the banks of the river

 C/g    /e      |/c	       /     |f/a    |c    |f

 We are gathered here to give a little thanks  thanks

 

 |3/4 bb	    |f/c	|d-    |d- /d /e |

 The voice of the rapids will echo

 F	|bb/c	     |d-       |g- / f/a |

 And ricochet like an old water well

 Bb   |f/c	   |d-	   |d-/c  |

 Who d ever want to let go

 Bb	|a-		|4/4 g7  |/ | meter

 Once you sit beneath its spell

 |f        bb	 |f/c bb/d |f	      bb      |f/c  bb/d

 It's dark and wide and deep,     towards the sea it creeps

 |f	  bb	  |f/c	   bb  |f    |bb

 I'm so glad i brought along my mandolin

 |f	      |f  d  |

 To play the river hymn...

 

 G			  |g	 c	|

 You can ride on it or drink it

 F	       |/ / g  g/b |

 Poison it or dam it

 C		 |/	  /   f  f/a  |

 Fish in it and wash in it

 Bb			  |c

 Swim in it and you can die in it

 |f     |c  |f  ||

 Run, you river, run

 

 3/4 bb |f/c		 |d-		|d- /d /e |

 Son,    you ain't never seen yourself

 F		 |bb/c		  |d-		   |g- / f/a	|

 No crystal mirror can show it clear, come over here instead

 Bb  |f/c	    |d- 	    |d-/c  |

 Son, you ain't never eased yourself

 Bb		    |a- 	    |4/4 g7  |/ | meter

 Til you laid it down in a river     bed

 |f	  bb	  |f/c bb/d	 |f	 bb  |f/c  bb/d

 If you hear a lonesome drone, it's as common as a stone

 |f	   bb	 |f/c bb    |f	  |bb

 And gets louder as the day  grows dim

 |f      |f

 That's the river hymn...

 |c/g	  /e	    |/c      /	    |f/a  /	 |f/f / |

 The whole congregation was standing on the banks of the river

 C/g	 /e	 |/c		 /     |f/a    |c    ||f |f ||

 We are gathered here to give a little thanks  thanks