Now playing

Take Me To The River

Chords

4.575 votes

Listen

YouTubeYouTube SpotifySpotify AppleApple Music

Amajor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

[Intro]      E7      Asus4  A(repeat vamp to verse 1)
[Verse 1]
        E7I don't know why I love you like I Asus4doA  
        E7After all the changes you been putting me tAsus4hroughA  
        E7You took my money and my cigaretteAsus4sA  
        E7Now I ain't seen hide nor hair oAsus4f you yAet
[Chorus]
        I wanna kCnow, won't you tGell me, DI'd love to sAay..A7.
        Take me to the E7river, Asus4wash   Ame dE7own
        Take me to the E7waterE7+5,     put my Asus4feet   Aon the gEround
turnaround    Asus4  A  
[Verse 2]
        I don't know why she treated me so bad
        After all the things that we could have had
        Love is emotion that I can't forget
        My sweet sixteen I will never regret  (repeat chorus)
[Bridge]
        DbmHold me, lAove me
        DbmPlease me, Ababy you can squeeze me
        BTil I drown, til I drown, til I drown, I'm gonna take you to the E7river
[Verse 3]
        I don't know why I love you like I do
        After all the changes you been putting me through
        Your sixteen candles are burnin' on my wall
        Telling me how you made a fool of them all (repeat chorus)
[chords]
[Verse]        E70 2 0 1 3 0  or...
               E70 7 6 7 5 0(I like this version better)
            Asus4x 0 4 2 3 0
                Ax 0 2 2 2 0
[chorus chords]
                Cx 3 5 5 x x  or...
                Cx 3 5 5 0 0(jangly)
                G3 5 5 x x x
                Dx 5 7 7 x x
                Ax 0 2 2 2 0(if you can get to it)
                A5 7 7 x x x(if you can't)
               A7x 0 7 6 8 x(funky chord, mute the A string)
         rest of the chorus chords like the verse chords, except...
             E7+50 7 6 7 8 0(mute both E strings or let 'em ring)
[bridge chords]
              Dbmx 4 6 6 5 x
                Ax 0 2 2 2 x
                Bx 2 4 4 x x or...
                Bx 2 4 4 0 0 (jangly)
               B7x x 4 2 4 x or...
               B7x x 9 8 10 x (funky)

All chords in this song (12)

🎸 Tips from players

Got a tip for playing this song — capo position, easier chords, strumming? Be the first to share one.

Chord Book

670,000+ free guitar chords · free-chords.com

Take Me To The River

by Talking Heads

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Asus4

E7+5

Dbm

[Intro] E7 Asus4 A(repeat vamp to verse 1)

[Verse 1]

E7 Asus4 A

I don't know why I love you like I do

E7 Asus4 A

After all the changes you been putting me through

E7 Asus4 A

You took my money and my cigarettes

E7 Asus4 A

Now I ain't seen hide nor hair of you yet

[Chorus]

C G D A A7

I wanna know, won't you tell me, I'd love to say...

E7 Asus4 A E7

Take me to the river, wash me down

E7 E7+5 Asus4 A E

Take me to the water, put my feet on the ground

Asus4 A

turnaround

[Verse 2]

I don't know why she treated me so bad

After all the things that we could have had

Love is emotion that I can't forget

My sweet sixteen I will never regret (repeat chorus)

[Bridge]

Dbm A

Hold me, love me

Dbm A

Please me, baby you can squeeze me

B E7

Til I drown, til I drown, til I drown, I'm gonna take you to the river

[Verse 3]

I don't know why I love you like I do

After all the changes you been putting me through

Your sixteen candles are burnin' on my wall

Telling me how you made a fool of them all (repeat chorus)

[chords]

[Verse] 0 2 0 1 3 0 or...

0 7 6 7 5 0(I like this version better)

Asus4

x 0 4 2 3 0

x 0 2 2 2 0

[chorus chords]

x 3 5 5 x x or...

x 3 5 5 0 0(jangly)

3 5 5 x x x

x 5 7 7 x x

x 0 2 2 2 0(if you can get to it)

5 7 7 x x x(if you can't)

x 0 7 6 8 x(funky chord, mute the A string)

rest of the chorus chords like the verse chords, except...

E7+5

0 7 6 7 8 0(mute both E strings or let 'em ring)

[bridge chords]

Dbm

x 4 6 6 5 x

x 0 2 2 2 x

x 2 4 4 x x or...

x 2 4 4 0 0 (jangly)

x x 4 2 4 x or...

x x 9 8 10 x (funky)

About Take Me To The River Chords by Talking Heads

Learn how to play Take Me To The River by Talking Heads with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Take Me To The River chords”, “Take Me To The River guitar chords”, or “Talking Heads Take Me To The River chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Take Me To The River chords and for experienced players who want accurate Take Me To The River lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include E7, Asus4, A, C, G, D.

FAQ — Take Me To The River by Talking Heads

How do I play "Take Me To The River" by Talking Heads on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Take Me To The River" by Talking Heads on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "Take Me To The River" by Talking Heads free?

Yes. The chords for "Take Me To The River" by Talking Heads are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Take Me To The River" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "Take Me To The River" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "Take Me To The River"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Take Me To The River" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Take Me To The River" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Take Me To The River" by Talking Heads with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Talking Heads below.

What key is "Take Me To The River" in?

The chords for "Take Me To The River" show the original chord names (including E7, Asus4, A, C, G, D). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.