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Banks Of The Ohio

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Banks of the Ohio     Olivia Newton John
[Verse 1]
CI asked my love   to take a Gwalk  To take a G7walk,  just a little Cwalk
Down beC7side  where the waters Fflow  Down by the Cbanks  Gof the OhCio
[Chorus]
CAnd only say  that you'll be Gmine  In no G7others' arms enCtwine
Down beC7side where the waters Fflow  Down by the CbankGs   of the COhio
[Verse 2]
CI held a knife  against his Gbreast As inG7to  my arms he pCressed
He cried "my C7love, don't you murder Fme I'm not Cprepared   Gfor eteCrnity
[Chorus]
CAnd only say  that you'll be Gmine In no G7others' arms enCtwine 
Down beC7side where the waters Fflow Down by the Cbanks   Gof the COhio
[Verse 3]
CI wandered home  between twelve and Gone I cried, "My G7God,  what have I Cdone?"
I've killed the C7only man I Flove He would not Ctake me  Gfor his Cbride
[Chorus]
CAnd only say  that you'll be Gmine In no G7others' arms eCntwine Down besC7ide 
where the waters Fflow Down by the Cbanks  Gof the OhCio  FDown by the Cbanks  Gof the OhCio

All chords in this song (5)

The story behind the song

"Banks Of The Ohio" is a song that tells a dark, dramatic story of love, betrayal, and murder along the river. As you play it, you're stepping into the shoes of a character grappling with intense emotions, leading to a tragic end. The song was an early hit for Olivia Newton-John in 1971, appearing on her album Great Hits! (First Impressions), showcasing her versatility before her massive success with Grease and other iconic songs. It plays like a haunting folk tale, full of tension and sorrow.

AI-written from these sources:Olivia Newton-John — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

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Banks Of The Ohio

by Olivia Newton-John

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Banks of the Ohio Olivia Newton John

[Verse 1]

C G G7 C

I asked my love to take a walk To take a walk, just a little walk

C7 F C G C

Down beside where the waters flow Down by the banks of the Ohio

[Chorus]

C G G7 C

And only say that you'll be mine In no others' arms entwine

C7 F C G C

Down beside where the waters flow Down by the banks of the Ohio

[Verse 2]

C G G7 C

I held a knife against his breast As into my arms he pressed

C7 F C G C

He cried "my love, don't you murder me I'm not prepared for eternity

[Chorus]

C G G7 C

And only say that you'll be mine In no others' arms entwine

C7 F C G C

Down beside where the waters flow Down by the banks of the Ohio

[Verse 3]

C G G7 C

I wandered home between twelve and one I cried, "My God, what have I done?"

C7 F C G C

I've killed the only man I love He would not take me for his bride

[Chorus]

C G G7 C C7

And only say that you'll be mine In no others' arms entwine Down beside

F C G C F C G C

where the waters flow Down by the banks of the Ohio Down by the banks of the Ohio

About Banks Of The Ohio Chords by Olivia Newton-John

Learn how to play Banks Of The Ohio by Olivia Newton-John with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Banks Of The Ohio chords”, “Banks Of The Ohio guitar chords”, or “Olivia Newton-John Banks Of The Ohio 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 Banks Of The Ohio chords and for experienced players who want accurate Banks Of The Ohio lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, G, G7, C7, F.

FAQ — Banks Of The Ohio by Olivia Newton-John

How do I play "Banks Of The Ohio" by Olivia Newton-John on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Banks Of The Ohio" by Olivia Newton-John 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 "Banks Of The Ohio" by Olivia Newton-John free?

Yes. The chords for "Banks Of The Ohio" by Olivia Newton-John are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Banks Of The Ohio" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "Banks Of The Ohio"?

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

Is "Banks Of The Ohio" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Banks Of The Ohio" by Olivia Newton-John with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Olivia Newton-John below.

What key is "Banks Of The Ohio" in?

The chords for "Banks Of The Ohio" show the original chord names (including C, G, G7, C7, F). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.