The Cool Cool River
View chords used in this chart
F#m
Moves like a fist through traffic
Anger and no one can heal it
Shoves a little bump into the momentum
It's just a little lump
But you feel it in the...
F#m G#m A G#m F#m G#m A G#m
In the creases and the shadows
F#m G#m A G#mF#m G#m A G#m
With a rattling deep emo-tion
F#m G#m A G#m F#m G#m A G#m
The cool, cool riv-er
F#m G#m A G#m F#m G#m A G#m
Sweeps the wild, white ocean
F#m11
Yes Boss. The government handshake
Yes Boss. The crusher of language
Yes Boss. Mr. Stillwater,
The face at the edge of the banquet
F#m G#m A G#m F#m G#m A G#m
The cool, the cool riv-er
F#m G#m A G#mF#m G#m A G#m
The cool, the cool riv-er
F#m11 E9(11)/B F#m/A
I believe in the future
D/A A D/A A E9(11)/B
I may live in my car
F#m/A
My radio tuned to
D/A A D/A A E9(11)/B
The voice of a star
Song dogs barking at the break of dawn
F#m/A D/A A D/A A
Lightning pushes the edge of a thunderstorm
E9(11)/B
And these old hopes and fears
F#m/A D/A A D/A A F#m
Still at my side
F#m
Anger and no one can heal it
Slides through the metal detector
Lives like a mole in a motel
A slide in a slide projector
F#m G#m A G#m F#m G#m A G#m
The cool, cool riv-er
F#m G#m A G#m F#m G#m A G#m
Sweeps the wild, white ocean
F#m G#m A G#m F#m G#m A G#m
The rage, the rage of love turns inward
F#m G#m A G#m F#m G#m A G#m
To prayers of devotion
F#m
And these prayers are
The constant road across the wilderness
These prayers are
F#m G#m A G#m F#m G#m A G#m
These prayers are the memory of God
F#m G#m A G#m F#m G#m A G#mF#m
The memory of God
E9(11)/B F#m/A
And I believe in the future
D/A A D/A A
We shall suffer no more
E9(11)/B F#m/A
Maybe not in my lifetime
D/A A D/A A E9(11)/B
But in yours I feel sure
Song dogs barking at the break of dawn
F#m/A D/A A D/A A
Lightning pushes the edge of a thunderstorm
E9(11)/B D
And these streets
A
Quiet as a sleeping army
E7/G# A D/A
Send their battered dreams to heaven, to heaven
E/B A
For the mother's restless son
D/A
Who is a witness to, who is a warrior
E/BA
Who denies his urge to break and run
Who says: Hard times?
I'm used to them
D/A
The speeding planet burns
I'm used to that
E/B A
My life's so common it disappears
D/A
And sometimes even music
E/B A
Cannot substitute for tears
Repeat and fade:
F#m11
How to play The Cool Cool River
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 F#m. 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.