The Band – The River Hymn (Guitar)

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Chords

[Piano Intro - slow gospel thang] Starts in 3/4 [Verse]
F  Bb         F C           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                  G7
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

    Bb      F/C        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             G7
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

 Bb F  C            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             G7
 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