the band
the river hymn
(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.