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The Holy River

Chords

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                                       *   *  
NOTE: See below to see how to play the A, F#m.
      They really are an  Aadd9/E , F#m7/11/E.
      clutter the chord tab. But do play them that
the same strings for the Emaj7, F#m7/11/E, and E chords.
    A*              F#m*
  Aadd9/E  Emaj7  F#m7/11/E   E
E ---0------0--------0--------0--
B ---0------0--------0--------0--
G ---6------4--------2--------1--
D ---7------6--------4--------2--
A ---0------6--------4--------2--
E ---0------0--------0--------0--
INTRO:
A
VERSE:
Aadd9/E                      F#m7/11/E
 *                               *
LAet's go down 2 the Emaj7holy riverF#m  E  
AIf we drown then we'll Emaj7be deliveredF#m  E  
U can stAill see the picture Emaj7upon the wall
F#mOne eye staring at nEothing at all
The Aother one trying 2 Emaj7focus through all your tF#mearsE  
U can tAry and try but there's Emaj7nothin' 2 hide
U can't F#mrun from yourself and whAat's inside
U gAot 2 find the answers 2 the qEmaj7uestions that U most F#mfearE  
BREAK:
So Dover and over U C#mask your soul
WDhy'd U come down 2 a wEorld so cold?
And the vDoice inside says 2C#mnight the truth will be F#mtoldE  
VERSE:
U surroAunded yourself with Emaj7all the wrong faces
SF#mpending your time in aEll the wrong places
PAuttin' your faith in tEmaj7hings that only make U F#mcryE  
PAeople say they love U when they Emaj7wanna help
But F#mhow can they when U can't hEelp yourself?
The mAore they say they love U, 
The mEmaj7ore U just wanna F#mdie E  
So hAere we go again, the self aEmaj7nalysis
F#mHave another glass of Port and uh.E. forget this
The bAand's playin' at the club Emaj72 night 
And they're bound 2 gF#mrooveE  
BREAK:
ThDere U are, U tC#mhink U're high
U cDan't ask yourself cuz U'd Eonly lie
DIf U had a dollar 4 C#mevery time U F#mtriedE  
VERSE:
U cAan't call nobody cuz they'll Emaj7tell U straight up
F#mCome and make love when U rEeally hate 'em
RelAationships based on the pEmaj7hysical are over and F#mdoneE  
VERSE::
TEhey're over and dAone oooh Emaj7ooooh
(They're over and F#mdone) oooh oEooh
UE'd rather have fAun oooh Emaj7oooh
With only F#mone, E  
With only oAne    
Only Emaj7one 
Only F#mone 
OEneE  
VERSE:
And tAhen it hit 'cha like a Emaj7fist on a wall
F#mWho gave U life when there was nEone at all?
Who gAave the sun permission 2 Emaj7rise up everyF#mday? (Ooh,alright)
LEet me tell it (Go'n)
AIf U ask God 2 Emaj7love U longer
F#mEvery breath U take will mEake U stronger
KeAepin' U happy (happy) 
And Emaj7proud 2 call His F#mname (Go'n and say it)
JEesus (Jesus)
BREAK:
And Dover and over U C#mask your soul
WDhy'd U come down 2 a wEorld so cold?
And the vDoice inside said 2C#mnight the truth will be F#mtold
And this time EI was listening, hear me
VERSE:
LAet's go down 2 the Emaj7holy river
F#mIf we drown then we'll Ebe delivered (Yes we will)
AIf we don't then we'll Emaj7never see the lF#might (ENo-oh)
AIf U die beEmaj7fore U try
U'll F#mhave 2 come back and fEace the light (Oh yes)
WAhen U believe it,  
U Emaj7got a good reason 2 F#mcry (EOh my, my)
So, wAent on down 2 the Emaj7holy river
I cF#malled my girl and told her I had sAomething 2 give her
I aAsked her 2 marry me and Emaj7she said yes, I cF#mried E  
Oh, that nAight I drowned in her Emaj7tears and mine
And.. and F#minstead of a glass of sorrow Eoh, and wine
Looking back yA'all, I don't miss Emaj7nothing except the F#mtimeE  
And when I sAee that picture up Emaj7on the wall
The F#mone eye staring at nEothing at all
My eAyes trying 2 focus but Emaj7these are much different F#mtears
EOh, yes they are
ONE STRUM - LET RING - Then sing ACAPELLA
LDet's go down 2 the holy river 
N.C
Let's go down 2 the holy river 
N.C
Let's go down 2 the holy river 
INSTRUMENTAL/SOLO:
F#m F#m  E
A  Emaj7  F#m  E
A  Emaj7  F#m  E
D  D  A  A
D  D  A  A
D  C#m  Bm  A
A  Emaj7  F#m  E
OUTRO:
LAet's go down 2 the Emaj7holy river F#m  E  
D A  D A  D A  D A  D A  D A  D A  G
LAet's go down 2 the Emaj7holy river F#m  E  A  Emaj7  F#m  E  
LAet's go down 2 the Emaj7holy river F#m  E  
A  Emaj7  F#m  E
A  Emaj7  F#m  E

All chords in this song (8)

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The Holy River

by Prince

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Emaj7

F#m

C#m

* *

NOTE: See below to see how to play the A, F#m.

They really are an Aadd9/E , F#m7/11/E.

clutter the chord tab. But do play them that

the same strings for the Emaj7, F#m7/11/E, and E chords.

A* F#m*

Aadd9/E Emaj7 F#m7/11/E E

E ---0------0--------0--------0--

B ---0------0--------0--------0--

G ---6------4--------2--------1--

D ---7------6--------4--------2--

A ---0------6--------4--------2--

E ---0------0--------0--------0--

INTRO:

VERSE:

Aadd9/E F#m7/11/E

* *

A Emaj7 F#m E

Let's go down 2 the holy river

A Emaj7 F#m E

If we drown then we'll be delivered

A Emaj7

U can still see the picture upon the wall

F#m E

One eye staring at nothing at all

A Emaj7 F#m E

The other one trying 2 focus through all your tears

A Emaj7

U can try and try but there's nothin' 2 hide

F#m A

U can't run from yourself and what's inside

A Emaj7 F#m E

U got 2 find the answers 2 the questions that U most fear

BREAK:

D C#m

So over and over U ask your soul

D E

Why'd U come down 2 a world so cold?

D C#m F#m E

And the voice inside says 2night the truth will be told

VERSE:

A Emaj7

U surrounded yourself with all the wrong faces

F#m E

Spending your time in all the wrong places

A Emaj7 F#m E

Puttin' your faith in things that only make U cry

A Emaj7

People say they love U when they wanna help

F#m E

But how can they when U can't help yourself?

The more they say they love U,

Emaj7 F#m E

The more U just wanna die

A Emaj7

So here we go again, the self analysis

F#m E

Have another glass of Port and uh.. forget this

A Emaj7

The band's playin' at the club 2 night

F#m E

And they're bound 2 groove

BREAK:

D C#m

There U are, U think U're high

D E

U can't ask yourself cuz U'd only lie

D C#m F#m E

If U had a dollar 4 every time U tried

VERSE:

A Emaj7

U can't call nobody cuz they'll tell U straight up

F#m E

Come and make love when U really hate 'em

A Emaj7 F#m E

Relationships based on the physical are over and done

VERSE::

E A Emaj7

They're over and done oooh ooooh

F#m E

(They're over and done) oooh oooh

E A Emaj7

U'd rather have fun oooh oooh

F#m E

With only one,

With only one

Emaj7

Only one

F#m

Only one

E E

One

VERSE:

A Emaj7

And then it hit 'cha like a fist on a wall

F#m E

Who gave U life when there was none at all?

A Emaj7 F#m

Who gave the sun permission 2 rise up everyday? (Ooh,alright)

Let me tell it (Go'n)

A Emaj7

If U ask God 2 love U longer

F#m E

Every breath U take will make U stronger

Keepin' U happy (happy)

Emaj7 F#m

And proud 2 call His name (Go'n and say it)

Jesus (Jesus)

BREAK:

D C#m

And over and over U ask your soul

D E

Why'd U come down 2 a world so cold?

D C#m F#m

And the voice inside said 2night the truth will be told

And this time I was listening, hear me

VERSE:

A Emaj7

Let's go down 2 the holy river

F#m E

If we drown then we'll be delivered (Yes we will)

A Emaj7 F#m E

If we don't then we'll never see the light (No-oh)

A Emaj7

If U die before U try

F#m E

U'll have 2 come back and face the light (Oh yes)

When U believe it,

Emaj7 F#m E

U got a good reason 2 cry (Oh my, my)

A Emaj7

So, went on down 2 the holy river

F#m A

I called my girl and told her I had something 2 give her

A Emaj7 F#m E

I asked her 2 marry me and she said yes, I cried

A Emaj7

Oh, that night I drowned in her tears and mine

F#m E

And.. and instead of a glass of sorrow oh, and wine

A Emaj7 F#m E

Looking back y'all, I don't miss nothing except the time

A Emaj7

And when I see that picture up on the wall

F#m E

The one eye staring at nothing at all

A Emaj7 F#m

My eyes trying 2 focus but these are much different tears

Oh, yes they are

ONE STRUM - LET RING - Then sing ACAPELLA

Let's go down 2 the holy river

N.C

Let's go down 2 the holy river

N.C

Let's go down 2 the holy river

INSTRUMENTAL/SOLO:

F#m F#m E

A Emaj7 F#m E

D D A A

D C#m Bm A

A Emaj7 F#m E

OUTRO:

A Emaj7 F#m E

Let's go down 2 the holy river

D A D A D A D A D A D A D A G

A Emaj7 F#m E A Emaj7 F#m E

Let's go down 2 the holy river

A Emaj7 F#m E

Let's go down 2 the holy river

A Emaj7 F#m E

About The Holy River Chords by Prince

Learn how to play The Holy River by Prince with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Holy River chords”, “The Holy River guitar chords”, or “Prince The Holy 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 Holy River chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Holy River lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include A, F#m, Aadd9/E, F#, E, B.

FAQ — The Holy River by Prince

How do I play "The Holy River" by Prince on guitar?

Open the free chords for "The Holy River" by Prince 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.

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

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "The Holy River"?

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

Is "The Holy River" easy to play on guitar?

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

What key is "The Holy River" in?

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