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The River

Chords

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Acoustic Ballad Interpretation
by Buenofine Dayao Calse
[Intro]
G    A G    A G    A G     A D Dsus2 D
[Verse 1]
(D)                        Dsus2           D               G  D  
You know a dream is like a river, ever changing as it flows.
And a dreGamer's just a veD/F#ssel that must foEmllow where it gAoes
Trying to leDarn from what's behind him
And never knBmowing what's in sGtore
Makes each dDay a constant battle
Just to stAay between the shDores.
[Chorus 1]
(D)                Dsus2              D           G  D  
And I will sail my vessel 'til the river runs dry,
Like a bGird upon the D/F#wind these waEmters are my sAky
I'll never rDeach my destination iGf I never try
So I will sDail my vessel 'til the riAver runs drDy.Dsus2  D  
[Verse 2]
(D)                      Dsus2              D              G  D  
Too many times we stand aside and let the waters slip away
'Til what we pGut off 'til tD/F#omorrow has Emnow become tAoday
So don't you siDt upon the shoreline and sBmay you're satiGsfied
ChDoose to chance the rapids and dAare to dance the tDide.
[Chorus 2]
(D)                Dsus2             D            G  D  
And I will sail my vessel 'til the river runs dry,
Like a bGird upon the D/F#wind these wEmaters are my sAky
I'll never reDach my destination if I never tGry
So I will sDail my vessel 'til the rAiver runs drDy.Dsus2  D  
[Bridge]
    D     Dsus2And Dthere's Bmbound to be rough wGaters
       And I kDnow I'll take some fGalls
       But with the gEmood Lord as my caD/F#ptain
                                  G          A(changing key into E)
       I can make it through them all...
[Final Chorus] 
(no chords played or single strum on each chord during the first 2 lines)
           (E)                     (A)        (E)
And I will sail my vessel 'til the river runs dry,
       (A)          (E/G#)      (F#m)         (B)
Like a bird upon the wind these waters are my sky
I'll never reEach my destination Aif I never try
So I will sEail my vessel 'til the river ruBns dry.E  A  
Yes, I will sEail my vessel
'Til the riBver runs dAry...
'Til the river runs dEry.

All chords in this song (11)

The story behind the song

"The River" uses the metaphor of a river to represent the journey of pursuing one's dreams. The lyrics convey the narrator's unwavering commitment to chase those aspirations. Garth Brooks himself described it as a song of inspiration, one he would be proud of for a long time. It was co-written with Victoria Shaw and released on his album Ropin' the Wind. At its heart, it plays like a hopeful anthem for anyone determined to follow their path.

AI-written from these sources:The River (Garth Brooks song) — Wikipedia ↗Garth Brooks — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

🎸 Tips from players

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

The River

by Garth Brooks

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Dsus2

D/F#

E/G#

F#m

Acoustic Ballad Interpretation

by Buenofine Dayao Calse

[Intro]

G A G A G A G A D Dsus2 D

[Verse 1]

D Dsus2 D G D

()

You know a dream is like a river, ever changing as it flows.

G D/F# Em A

And a dreamer's just a vessel that must follow where it goes

Trying to learn from what's behind him

Bm G

And never knowing what's in store

Makes each day a constant battle

A D

Just to stay between the shores.

[Chorus 1]

D Dsus2 D G D

()

And I will sail my vessel 'til the river runs dry,

G D/F# Em A

Like a bird upon the wind these waters are my sky

D G

I'll never reach my destination if I never try

D A D Dsus2 D

So I will sail my vessel 'til the river runs dry.

[Verse 2]

D Dsus2 D G D

()

Too many times we stand aside and let the waters slip away

G D/F# Em A

'Til what we put off 'til tomorrow has now become today

D Bm G

So don't you sit upon the shoreline and say you're satisfied

D A D

Choose to chance the rapids and dare to dance the tide.

[Chorus 2]

D Dsus2 D G D

()

And I will sail my vessel 'til the river runs dry,

G D/F# Em A

Like a bird upon the wind these waters are my sky

D G

I'll never reach my destination if I never try

D A D Dsus2 D

So I will sail my vessel 'til the river runs dry.

[Bridge]

D Dsus2 D Bm G

And there's bound to be rough waters

D G

And I know I'll take some falls

Em D/F#

But with the good Lord as my captain

G A

(changing key into E)

I can make it through them all...

[Final Chorus]

(no chords played or single strum on each chord during the first 2 lines)

E A E

() () ()

And I will sail my vessel 'til the river runs dry,

A E/G# F#m B

() () () ()

Like a bird upon the wind these waters are my sky

E A

I'll never reach my destination if I never try

E B E A

So I will sail my vessel 'til the river runs dry.

Yes, I will sail my vessel

B A

'Til the river runs dry...

'Til the river runs dry.

About The River Chords by Garth Brooks

Learn how to play The River by Garth Brooks with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The River chords”, “The River guitar chords”, or “Garth Brooks 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 The River chords and for experienced players who want accurate The River lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, A, D, Dsus2, D/F#, Em.

FAQ — The River by Garth Brooks

How do I play "The River" by Garth Brooks on guitar?

Open the free chords for "The River" by Garth Brooks 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 "The River" by Garth Brooks free?

Yes. The chords for "The River" by Garth Brooks are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "The River" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "The River"?

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

Is "The River" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "The River" by Garth Brooks with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Garth Brooks below.

What key is "The River" in?

The chords for "The River" show the original chord names (including G, A, D, Dsus2, D/F#, Em). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.