Old Time Riverman
View chords used in this chart
Old Time River Man
(John Hartford) (Down on the River Album)
And (Banjo According to John Hartford, Lesson 1)
Tab by: Verne Garrison
(D)Where does an (G) old time (D) river man (A) go
After he's passed (D) away?
Does his soul (G) still keep a (D) watch on the (A) deep
For the rest of the river (D) days?
Does he then (G) come (D) back as a channel (A) cat
Or the wasps that light on the (D) wheel?
Or the birds that (G) fly through (D) a summer (A) sky
Or the fish swimming under the (D) keel?
Where does an (G) old (D) time pilot (A) go
After he's stood his last (D) watch?
Does he fall by the (G) ear of the (D) man who (A) steers
Saying hold her on that (D) notch
There's a gentle (G) sneeze in the (D) river (A) breeze
Saying son I'm goin to (D) bed.
And they light their (G) pipes and (D)go off in the(A) night
Or was that fireflies (D) instead?
Where does an (G) old time (D) engineer (A) go after he's cooled her (D) down?
Gone up the (G) hill to never (D) come (A) back, on the quiet side of (D) town.
Does his G) soul live (D) on in the engine (A) songs
While the striker checks the (D) gears? Is he still (G) afloat on an (D) old steam (A) boat after he's gone from (D) here?
****Where’s an (G) poor old love (D) song go (A) after its off the (D) charts?
Does it (G) hang around (D) like a distant (A) sound or last years broken (D) hearts
Does it (G) then come (D) back on a brand new (A) track sure to bend your (D) head
It might be (G) old, but just turned (D) gold, by the (A) talking heads (D) instead.
***Last verse taken from video on U tube..v.g. 11-3-06..
How to play Old Time Riverman
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is D. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.