The River Where She Sleeps
View chords used in this chart
CAPO: 5
Intro: G C G C G C D G C G D
G C G C
She's a walking talking breathing New Age wonder, old time heathens
G C D G C D
Don't know what to make of Mary Jane
G C G C
'Cause she ain't trying to be no swami, she ain't mad at dad and mommy
G C D
She don't curse the storm clouds when it rains
G D C D
When the sun refuse to shine she don't mind, she make everything look fine
G D C D
She got moon in her eyes, crescent windows on the skies
Em C Em A
And the rain comes down in sheets on the people in the streets
C D C D G
And it carries all the secrets that they keep to the river where she sleeps
Instrumental: G C G C G C D G C G D
G C G C
She comes to me when I'm dejected, leaves her soul out unprotected
G C D G C D
Tells me that the truth can make me free
G C G C
And she don't need what she ain't got, she reads me books by Alan Watts
G C D
Speaking words o' wisdom: "Let it be"
G D C D
When the sun refuse to shine she don't mind, she take thunder for a sign
G D C D
She got stars in her head, supernovas in her bed
Em C Em A
And it rains most every day, but I (like it fine that way
C D C D G
'Cause the waters run so marvelous and deep in the river where she sleeps
Instrumental: G C G C G C D G C G D (2x)
G C G C
Mary ain't inclined to drinking, still she stumbles without thinking
G C D G C D
Anywhere she gets the urge to stray
G C G C
And everybody knows about her, they don't want to change or doubt her
G C D
They just grin when she comes out to play
G D C D
When the sun refuse to shine she don't mind, she be moving down the line
G D C D
She got bells on her toes, generations in her clothes
Em C Em A
And she sings without a sound as the evening rolls around
C D C D G
And she dances as the twilight shadows creep down the river where she sleeps
Instrumental: G C G C G C D G C G D
G C G C
Professor come to burst my bubble, says that girl is bound for trouble
G C D G C D
Serves me solace in a paper cup
G C G C
But it looks a bit like agent orange and when he leaves he slams the door and
G C D
Just about that time she phones me up
G D C D
When the sun refuse to shine she don't mind, she just ain't the worrying kind
G D C D
She got dogs, she got cats, she keeps rabbits in her hats
Em C Em A
And the people that she sees, they're all buddhas or police
C D C D G
And the banks rise high and perilous and steep by the river where she sleeps
Instrumental: G C G C G C D G C G D (2x)
G C G C
Now one dismayed December dawn. I wake to find my Mary's gone
G C D G C D
And no one knows when she'll come back again
G C G C
And all the silent temple bells from Styx to Glenn to Hazel Dell
G C D
Are mourning all the nights that might have been
G D C D
When the sun refuse to shine she don't mind, she just leave this world behind
G D C D
She got wheels in her smile, she can coast along for miles
Em C Em A
Me, I'm walking all alone, feeling soulful to the bone
C D C D G
'Til I stop and I hang my head and weep by the river where she sleeps
OUTRO: G C G C G C D G C G D G
How to play The River Where She Sleeps
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 G. 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.