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River Lea

Chords

4.9158 votes

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KeyOriginal

Chords

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Capo on fret 4 (as written in this song)

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

STANDARD TUNING
CAPO ON 4
G A Bm E
 GEverybody tells me it's 'bout Atime that I moved on
 And I Bmneed to learn to lighten up and Elearn how to be young
 But Gmy heart is a valley, it's so Ashallow and man-made
 I'm Bmscared to death if I let you in, you'll Asee I'm just a fake
 GSometimes I feel lonely in the Aarms of your touch
 But I Bmknow that's just me 'cause nothing Aever is enough
 GWhen I was a child I grew up Aby the River Lea
 There was Bmsomething in the water, now that Asomething's in me
 Oh, I can't gGo backA  
 But the Bmreeds are growing out of my Afingertips
 I can't gGo backA  
 To the rEiver
 But it's in my Bmroots, in my Aveins 
 In my blood and I'll Estain
 every Bmheart that I Ause to heal the Epain
 But it's in my Bmroots, in my Aveins 
 In my blood and I'll Eslay
 every Bmheart that I Ause to heal the Epain
 ESo I blame it on BmRiver lea
 The ARiver Lea, The River Lea
 EYeah, I blame it on BmRiver lea
 The ARiver Lea, The ERiver Lea
 GI should probably tell you now
 beAfore is way too late
 that I Bmnever meant to hurt you 
 or to Alie straight to your face
 ConGsider this my apology
 I know it's Ayears in advance
 But I Bmrather say it now in case
 I Anever get the chance
 No, I can't gGo backA  
 But the Bmreeds are growing out of my Afingertips
 I can't gGo backA  
 To the rEiver
 But it's in my Bmroots, in my Aveins 
 In my blood and I'll Estain
 every Bmheart that I Ause to heal the Epain
 But it's in my Bmroots, in my Aveins 
 In my blood and I'll Eslay
 every Bmheart that I Ause to heal the Epain
 ESo I blame it on BmRiver lea
 The ARiver Lea, The River Lea
 EYeah, I blame it on BmRiver lea
 The ARiver Lea, The ERiver Lea
 ESo I blame it on BmRiver lea
 The ARiver Lea, The River Lea
 EYeah, I blame it on BmRiver lea
 The ARiver Lea, The ERiver Lea
Bm A  E
Bm A  E
Bm A  E
Bm A  E

All chords in this song (4)

The story behind the song

"River Lea" is a biographical song with a "ghostly feel" that explores the River Lea, a marshy London tributary located near Adele's birthplace. The lyrics delve into how she has changed since her time living near the river, a place she spent much of her life walking alongside "to go and get somewhere else." There is a sense of guilt woven into the song's narrative, reflecting on personal transformation. At its heart, it plays like a contemplative journey through one's past and the person they've become.

AI-written from these sources:River Lea (song) — Wikipedia ↗Adele — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

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River Lea

by Adele

Lyrics & chords · Original key · Capo on fret 4 (as written in this song)

Chords in this song · guitar

STANDARD TUNING

CAPO ON 4

G A Bm E

G A

Everybody tells me it's 'bout time that I moved on

Bm E

And I need to learn to lighten up and learn how to be young

G A

But my heart is a valley, it's so shallow and man-made

Bm A

I'm scared to death if I let you in, you'll see I'm just a fake

G A

Sometimes I feel lonely in the arms of your touch

Bm A

But I know that's just me 'cause nothing ever is enough

G A

When I was a child I grew up by the River Lea

Bm A

There was something in the water, now that something's in me

G A

Oh, I can't go back

Bm A

But the reeds are growing out of my fingertips

G A

I can't go back

To the river

Bm A

But it's in my roots, in my veins

In my blood and I'll stain

Bm A E

every heart that I use to heal the pain

Bm A

But it's in my roots, in my veins

In my blood and I'll slay

Bm A E

every heart that I use to heal the pain

E Bm

So I blame it on River lea

The River Lea, The River Lea

E Bm

Yeah, I blame it on River lea

A E

The River Lea, The River Lea

I should probably tell you now

before is way too late

that I never meant to hurt you

or to lie straight to your face

Consider this my apology

I know it's years in advance

But I rather say it now in case

I never get the chance

G A

No, I can't go back

Bm A

But the reeds are growing out of my fingertips

G A

I can't go back

To the river

Bm A

But it's in my roots, in my veins

In my blood and I'll stain

Bm A E

every heart that I use to heal the pain

Bm A

But it's in my roots, in my veins

In my blood and I'll slay

Bm A E

every heart that I use to heal the pain

E Bm

So I blame it on River lea

The River Lea, The River Lea

E Bm

Yeah, I blame it on River lea

A E

The River Lea, The River Lea

E Bm

So I blame it on River lea

The River Lea, The River Lea

E Bm

Yeah, I blame it on River lea

A E

The River Lea, The River Lea

Bm A E

About River Lea Chords by Adele

Learn how to play River Lea by Adele with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “River Lea chords”, “River Lea guitar chords”, or “Adele River Lea 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 River Lea chords and for experienced players who want accurate River Lea lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, A, Bm, E.

FAQ — River Lea by Adele

How do I play "River Lea" by Adele on guitar?

Open the free chords for "River Lea" by Adele 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 "River Lea" by Adele free?

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

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

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "River Lea"?

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

Is "River Lea" easy to play on guitar?

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

What key is "River Lea" in?

The chords for "River Lea" show the original chord names (including G, A, Bm, E). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.