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River Man

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Dminor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

On the Aadd9 and the Amadd9 there is an alternating
E bass note throughout the song, for neatness I've
not shown it against the lyrics in the tab.
||:   Aadd9/E/     Aadd9/     /     Aadd9/E/    /    Aadd9:||
||Amadd9/E:   /     Amadd9/     /     Amadd9/E/    Amadd9/    :||
It's better to try and get a groove going and not
to over-think the 5/4 rhythm, but if it helps to
break it down, you could instead count the
pattern as a bar of 3/4 followed by a bar of 2/4
   1   2   3     1   2
|  /   /   /  |  /   /  |
ACTUAL TIME SIGNATURE: 5/4 (Five beats to each bar)
   1   2   3   4   5
|  /   /   /   /   /  |
CAPO: 3rd fret
(Chords will then sound in the recorded key of C)
IGNORE THE CHORD BOXES the website might
automatically suggest, they are not my choices,
Please just use the typed numbers shown below for
the voicings. NOTE the high E string isn't played:
Aadd9/E  = 00242x               F       = 13321x
Aadd9    = x0242x               F(b5)   = 13320x
Amadd9/E = 00241x or 00250x     Emmaj11 = 00204x
Amadd9   = x0241x or x0250x     A13/E   = 00402x
C7sus2/G = 33033x or 33533x     Am13/E  = 00401x
                               (Amadd9) = x0750x
[Intro]
||Aadd9/E:   /     Aadd9/     /     Aadd9/E/    Aadd9/    :|| [x4]
[Verse 1]
          Amadd9/EBetty came by on her way--C7sus2/G--------,
Said she had a word to say----F-------,
'Bout things today---Aadd9/E-------, and fallen leaves,
         Amadd9/ESaid she hadn't heard the news--C7sus2/G--------,
Hadn't had the time to choose----F----,
A way to lose--Aadd9/E-------  what she believes
[Chorus]
          Amadd9/EGonna see the river man--C7sus2/G--------,
Gonna tell him all I can-----F----,
About the plan--Aadd9/E------- for lilac time,
           Amadd9/EIf he tells me all he knows---C7sus2/G--------,
'Bout the way his river flows-----F---,
And all night shows--Emmaj11-------- in summertime 
[Break]
|  F/  /  F(b5)/  /  / |  F/  /  F(b5)/  /  / |  F/  /  F(b5)/  /  /  |
||:   Aadd9/E/     Aadd9/     /     Aadd9/E/    /    Aadd9:|| [x2]
|  F/  /  F(b5)/  /  / |  F/  /  F(b5)/  /  / |  F/  /  F(b5)/  /  /  |
||Aadd9/E:   /     Aadd9/     /     Aadd9/E/    Aadd9/    :|| [x4]
[Verse 2]
           Amadd9/EBetty said she prayed today---C7sus2/G--------,
For the sky to blow away----F--------,
Or maybe stay---Aadd9/E-------, ...she wasn't sure,
         Amadd9/EFor when she thought of summer rain-C7sus2/G--------,
Calling for her mind again----F----,
She lost the pain-Aadd9/E-------, ...and stayed for more 
[Chorus]
           Amadd9/EGonna see the river man---C7sus2/G--------,
Gonna tell him all I can-----F------,
About the ban---Aadd9/E------- ...on feeling free,
           Amadd9/EIf he tells me all he knows---C7sus2/G--------,
'Bout the way his river flows-----F-----,
I don't suppose--Emmaj11------- it's meant for me
[Coda]
        A13/EOh-----, how they come and go,
        Am13/EOh-----, how they Emmaj11come and go
(Amadd9)
=====================================================
[Verse 3]
          Amadd9/EBetty fell behind a while--C7sus2/G---------,
Said she hadn't time to smile----F----,
Or die in style---Aadd9/E-------,  but still she tries,
          Amadd9/ESaid her time was drawing short--C7sus2/G---------,
Hadn't done the things she ought----F----,
Where teacher taught---Aadd9/E-------, and father flies 

All chords in this song (10)

The story behind the song

"River Man" is a mysterious journey into the mind, with the narrator setting out to find the titular figure, a journey Betty has "prayed today" for. The lyrics evoke a sense of searching and reflection, touching on places where "teacher taught, and father flies." This song was considered by Nick Drake to be the centerpiece of his 1969 debut album, Five Leaves Left. Its unusual 5/4 time signature and the request for the strings to sound like Frederick Delius give it a unique, flowing quality, like a river itself. At its heart, the song feels like a quest for understanding, a quiet contemplation of life's elusive truths.

AI-written from these sources:River Man — Wikipedia ↗Nick Drake — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

Story time

River Man

River Man

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River Man

by Nick Drake

Lyrics & chords · Original key · Capo on fret 3 (as written in this song)

Chords in this song · guitar

Aadd9/E

Aadd9

Amadd9/E

C7sus2/G

Emmaj11

F(b5)

A13/E

Am13/E

Amadd9

On the Aadd9 and the Amadd9 there is an alternating

E bass note throughout the song, for neatness I've

not shown it against the lyrics in the tab.

Aadd9/E Aadd9 Aadd9/E Aadd9

||: / / / / / :||

Amadd9/E Amadd9 Amadd9/E Amadd9

||: / / / / / :||

It's better to try and get a groove going and not

to over-think the 5/4 rhythm, but if it helps to

break it down, you could instead count the

pattern as a bar of 3/4 followed by a bar of 2/4

1 2 3 1 2

| / / / | / / |

ACTUAL TIME SIGNATURE: 5/4 (Five beats to each bar)

1 2 3 4 5

| / / / / / |

CAPO: 3rd fret

(Chords will then sound in the recorded key of C)

IGNORE THE CHORD BOXES the website might

automatically suggest, they are not my choices,

Please just use the typed numbers shown below for

the voicings. NOTE the high E string isn't played:

Aadd9/E = 00242x F = 13321x

Aadd9 = x0242x F(b5) = 13320x

Amadd9/E = 00241x or 00250x Emmaj11 = 00204x

Amadd9 = x0241x or x0250x A13/E = 00402x

C7sus2/G = 33033x or 33533x Am13/E = 00401x

(Amadd9) = x0750x

[Intro]

Aadd9/E Aadd9 Aadd9/E Aadd9

||: / / / / / :|| [x4]

[Verse 1]

Amadd9/E C7sus2/G

Betty came by on her way----------,

Said she had a word to say-----------,

Aadd9/E

'Bout things today----------, and fallen leaves,

Amadd9/E C7sus2/G

Said she hadn't heard the news----------,

Hadn't had the time to choose--------,

Aadd9/E

A way to lose--------- what she believes

[Chorus]

Amadd9/E C7sus2/G

Gonna see the river man----------,

Gonna tell him all I can---------,

Aadd9/E

About the plan--------- for lilac time,

Amadd9/E C7sus2/G

If he tells me all he knows-----------,

'Bout the way his river flows--------,

Emmaj11

And all night shows---------- in summertime

[Break]

F F(b5) F F(b5) F F(b5)

| / / / / / | / / / / / | / / / / / |

Aadd9/E Aadd9 Aadd9/E Aadd9

||: / / / / / :|| [x2]

F F(b5) F F(b5) F F(b5)

| / / / / / | / / / / / | / / / / / |

Aadd9/E Aadd9 Aadd9/E Aadd9

||: / / / / / :|| [x4]

[Verse 2]

Amadd9/E C7sus2/G

Betty said she prayed today-----------,

For the sky to blow away------------,

Aadd9/E

Or maybe stay----------, ...she wasn't sure,

Amadd9/E C7sus2/G

For when she thought of summer rain---------,

Calling for her mind again--------,

Aadd9/E

She lost the pain--------, ...and stayed for more

[Chorus]

Amadd9/E C7sus2/G

Gonna see the river man-----------,

Gonna tell him all I can-----------,

Aadd9/E

About the ban---------- ...on feeling free,

Amadd9/E C7sus2/G

If he tells me all he knows-----------,

'Bout the way his river flows----------,

Emmaj11

I don't suppose--------- it's meant for me

[Coda]

A13/E

Oh-----, how they come and go,

Am13/E Emmaj11

Oh-----, how they come and go

Amadd9

()

=====================================================

[Verse 3]

Amadd9/E C7sus2/G

Betty fell behind a while-----------,

Said she hadn't time to smile--------,

Aadd9/E

Or die in style----------, but still she tries,

Amadd9/E C7sus2/G

Said her time was drawing short-----------,

Hadn't done the things she ought--------,

Aadd9/E

Where teacher taught----------, and father flies

About River Man Chords by Nick Drake

Learn how to play River Man by Nick Drake with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “River Man chords”, “River Man guitar chords”, or “Nick Drake River Man 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 Man chords and for experienced players who want accurate River Man lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Aadd9, E, Aadd9/E, C, F, A13/E.

FAQ — River Man by Nick Drake

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What key is "River Man" in?

The chords for "River Man" show the original chord names (including Aadd9, E, Aadd9/E, C, F, A13/E). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.