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Old Rivers

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Old Rivers: Walter Brennan
#2 Easy Listening, #3 Country and #5 on BB
Hot 100 on LIBERTY Records in 1962.
INTRO:
A D A
#1.
AHow old was I when I Dfirst seen old Rivers?
AI can't remember when he weren't aEround.
Well, Athat old fellow did a Dheap of work.
Spent his Awhole life Ewalking plowed Aground.
#2.
AHe had a one-room shack not Dfar from us..
and well, Awe was about as poor as Ehim.
He had Aone old mule he called DMidnight..
and AI'd trailed Ealong after Athem.
#3.
AHe used to plow them rows Dstraight and deep..
and AI'd come along near Ebehind.
A-Abustin' up clods with my Down bare feet..
AOld Rivers was a Efriend of Amine.
#4.
AThat sun'd get high and that Dmule would work..
Atill old Rivers'd finally say, "EWhoa!"
He'd Awipe his brow, lean Dback on the reins
and Atalk about a Eplace he was gonna Ago.
CHORUS:
He'd say, Done of these days I'm gonna Aclimb that mountain.
EWalk up there, Aamong them clouds, where the Dcotton's high.
And the Acorn's a-growin' and there Eain't no fields to Aplow.
INTERLUDE:
A B
#5.
BI got a letter today from the Efolks back home and
Bthey're all fine and crops is F#dry.
BDown at the end my mama said, "ESon, Byou know old 
F#Rivers Bdied."
#6.
BJust sittin' here now on this Enew-plowed earth
trying to Bfind me a little F#shade.
With the Bsun beating down 'cross the Efield I see,
that Bmule, old F#Rivers and Bme.
CHORUS:
He'd say, Bone of these days I'm gonna F#climb that mountain.
C#Walk up there, F#among the clouds, where the Bcotton's high.
And the F#corn's a-growin' and there C#ain't no fields to F#plow.
OUTRO:
With the Esun beating down 'cross the Bfields I see..
that F#mule, old Rivers, and Bme..
A sixties smash from Kraziekhat.

All chords in this song (6)

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Old Rivers

by Walter Brennan

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Old Rivers: Walter Brennan

#2 Easy Listening, #3 Country and #5 on BB

Hot 100 on LIBERTY Records in 1962.

INTRO:

A D A

#1.

A D

How old was I when I first seen old Rivers?

A E

I can't remember when he weren't around.

A D

Well, that old fellow did a heap of work.

A E A

Spent his whole life walking plowed ground.

#2.

A D

He had a one-room shack not far from us..

A E

and well, we was about as poor as him.

A D

He had one old mule he called Midnight..

A E A

and I'd trailed along after them.

#3.

A D

He used to plow them rows straight and deep..

A E

and I'd come along near behind.

A D

A-bustin' up clods with my own bare feet..

A E A

Old Rivers was a friend of mine.

#4.

A D

That sun'd get high and that mule would work..

A E

till old Rivers'd finally say, "Whoa!"

A D

He'd wipe his brow, lean back on the reins

A E A

and talk about a place he was gonna go.

CHORUS:

D A

He'd say, one of these days I'm gonna climb that mountain.

E A D

Walk up there, among them clouds, where the cotton's high.

A E A

And the corn's a-growin' and there ain't no fields to plow.

INTERLUDE:

A B

#5.

B E

I got a letter today from the folks back home and

B F#

they're all fine and crops is dry.

B E B

Down at the end my mama said, "Son, you know old

F# B

Rivers died."

#6.

B E

Just sittin' here now on this new-plowed earth

B F#

trying to find me a little shade.

B E

With the sun beating down 'cross the field I see,

B F# B

that mule, old Rivers and me.

CHORUS:

B F#

He'd say, one of these days I'm gonna climb that mountain.

C# F# B

Walk up there, among the clouds, where the cotton's high.

F# C# F#

And the corn's a-growin' and there ain't no fields to plow.

OUTRO:

E B

With the sun beating down 'cross the fields I see..

F# B

that mule, old Rivers, and me..

A sixties smash from Kraziekhat.

About Old Rivers Chords by Walter Brennan

Learn how to play Old Rivers by Walter Brennan with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Old Rivers chords”, “Old Rivers guitar chords”, or “Walter Brennan Old Rivers 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 Old Rivers chords and for experienced players who want accurate Old Rivers lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include A, D, E, B, F#, C#.

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