IntroEmGDCAmGCCC
e|--------------------------------------------|
B|--------------12-10-8------12-10-8-10-------|
G|-9--8-9-11-12---------8b--------------8b----|
D|--------------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------|
VerseEmGDC
I come from down in the valley Where mister, when you're young
EmGCG
They bring you up to do like your daddy done
CGDEm
Me and Mary we met in high school When she was just seventeen
AmGC
We'd drive out of this valley down to where the fields were green
ChorusEmCDG
We'd go down to the river And into the river we'd dive
EmCDC
Oh down to the river we’d ride
VerseEmGDC
Then I got Mary pregnant And man, that was all she wrote
EmGCG
And for my 19th birthday I got a union card and a wedding coat
CGDEm
We went down to the courthouse And the judge put it all to rest
Am
No wedding day smiles, no walk down the aisle
GC
No flowers, no wedding dress
ChorusEmC
That night we went down to the river
DG
And into the river we'd dive
EmCDC
Oh down to the river we did ride
[Solo]
(backing chords for the solo are the same as the verses)
|| Em | G | D | C ||
|| Em | G | C | G ||
|| C | C | GD | Em ||
|| Am | Am | G | C ||
e|-------------------------------------10-10--12--10-12-10--12--10-12-10-------------------|
B|--------------12-10-8------12--12-12------------------------------------12--12-10-8------|
G|-9--8-9-11-12---------8b------------------------------------------------------------8b---|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
e|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-12--10-10--8-10-8-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------8b---7-7-12-11-8b-----------------------------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
VerseEmGDC
I got a job working construction for the Johnstown Company
EmGCG
But lately there ain't been much work on account of the economy
C
Now all them things that seemed so important
GDEm
Well mister they vanished right into the air
AmGC
Now I just act like I don't remember Mary acts like she don't care
BridgeEmGD
But I remember us riding in my brother's car Her body tan and wet down at
CEmG
the reservoir At night on them banks I'd lie awake
CG
And pull her close just to feel each breath she'd take
C
Now those memories come back to haunt me
GDEm
They haunt me like a curse
AmGC
Is a dream a lie if it don't come true Or is it something worse
ChorusEmCDG
That sends me down to the river Though I know the river is dry
EmCDC
That sends me down to the river tonight
EmCDG
Down to the river my baby and I
EmCDC
Oh down to the river we ride Ooh..
OutroEmCDGEmCC
This arrangement for the song is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the song. You may only use this for private study, scholarship, or research.