The River Man - Nick Drake
View chords used in this chart
INTRO: starts with 4 measures of A/E
A/E
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- 2 - - 2 2 - - 2 -|- 2 - - 2 2 - - 2 -|- 2 - - 2 2 - - 2 -|- 2 - - 2 2 - - 2 -
- 2 - - 2 2 - - 2 -|- 2 - - 2 2 - - 2 -|- 2 - - 2 2 - - 2 -|- 2 - - 2 2 - - 2 -
- 2 - - 2 2 - - 2 -|- 2 - - 2 2 - - 2 -|- 2 - - 2 2 - - 2 -|- 2 - - 2 2 - - 2 -
- - - - - - - - - -|- - - - - - - - - -|- - - - - - - - - -|- - - - - - - - - -
0 - - 0 - - 0 0 - -|0 - - 0 - - 0 0 - -|0 - - 0 - - 0 0 - -|0 - - 0 - - 0 0 - -
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 &
VERSES: note where the words come in
Am/E Gm
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- 1 - - 1 1 - - 1 -|- 1 - - 1 1 - - 1 -|- 3 - - 3 3 - - 3 -|- 3 - - 3 3 - - 3 -
- 2 - - 2 2 - - 2 -|- 2 - - 2 2 - - 2 -|- 3 - - 5 5 - - 5 -|- 3 - - 5 5 - - 5 -
- 2 - - 2 2 - - 2 -|- 2 - - 2 2 - - 2 -|- 5 - - 5 5 - - 5 -|- 5 - - 5 5 - - 5 -
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0 - - 0 - - 0 0 - -|0 - - 0 - - 0 0 - -|3 - - 3 - - 3 3 - -|3 - - 3 - - 3 3 - -
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 &
Bet-ty came on by her way Said she had a word to say
Said she hadn't heard the news Hadn't had the time to choose
Gonna see the riverman Gonna tell him all I can
If he tells me all he knows 'Bout the way his river flows
Betty said she prayed today For the sky to blow away
For when she thought of summer rain Calling for her mind again
Gonna see the riverman Gonna tell him all I can
If he tells me all he knows 'Bout the way his river flows
F A/E
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- 1 - - 1 1 - - 1 -|- 1 - - 1 1 - - 1 -|- 2 - - 2 2 - - 2 -|- 2 - - 2 2 - - 2 -
- 2 - - 2 2 - - 2 -|- 2 - - 2 2 - - 2 -|- 2 - - 2 2 - - 2 -|- 2 - - 2 2 - - 2 -
- 3 - - 3 3 - - 3 -|- 3 - - 3 3 - - 3 -|- 2 - - 2 2 - - 2 -|- 2 - - 2 2 - - 2 -
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1 - - 1 - - 1 1 - -|1 - - 1 - - 1 1 - -|0 - - 0 - - 0 0 - -|0 - - 0 - - 0 0 - -
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 &
'bout things today and fallen leaves
A way to lose what she believes
About the plan for lilac time
And all night shows in summertime
Or maybe stay, she wasn't sure
She lost the pain, and stayed for more
About the ban on feeling free
I don't suppose it's meant for me
At the end:
A/E A(dim5)/E
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- 2 - - 2 2 - - 2 -|- 2 - - 2 2 - - 2 -|- 4 - - 4 4 - - 4 -|- 4 - - 4 4 - - 4 -|
- 2 - - 2 2 - - 2 -|- 2 - - 2 2 - - 2 -|- 2 - - 2 2 - - 2 -|- 2 - - 2 2 - - 2 -|
- 2 - - 2 2 - - 2 -|- 2 - - 2 2 - - 2 -|- 2 - - 2 2 - - 2 -|- - - - 2 2 - - 2 -|
- - - - - - - - - -|- - - - - - - - - -|- - - - - - - - - -|0 - - 0 - - 0 0 - -|
0 - - 0 - - 0 0 - -|0 - - 0 - - 0 0 - -|0 - - 0 - - 0 0 - -|- - - - - - - - - -|
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 &
Oh how they come and go
Oh how they come and go
Notes: The last chord (Adim5/E) is also used at the end of verses 4 and 8
Use both forms but not necessarily in that order
-- steved@ti.com |"Chaco Chickens:
| Real People, Real Food" - X-Files
How to play The River Man - Nick Drake
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 A/E. 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.