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A Bend In The River

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Mark Erelli - A Bend In The River
CAPO: 2nd fret
[Intro]
Dm G C
[Chorus]
It's just a Fbend in the river
Where the Cwater slows Amdown
It might not Dmlook like much to Gyou
But it's my homeCtown
[Verse 1]
It ain't no Cmystery
How this Ftown was born
It started with a Ccouple farms
Then the mill and the G7general store
[Verse 2]
Ever since the Cwork went south
And those Fwheels don't run
The bars got the Cchurches beat
By at least G7two to one
[Verse 3]
And I've Clived 'round here
Ever since I Fwas a kid
I used to dream of Cgetting out
Just like those G7college boys did
[Verse 4]
But maybe (DC)I was born
Without a Frambling bone
You stay in one place Clong enough
G7And it starts to Cfeel like home
[Chorus]
[Verse 5]
I got Cmarried here
It'll be two Fyears this spring
I can see her in her Cmama's white dress
Every time I hear the G7church bell ring
[Verse 6]
I know Csome folks say
That she could do Fbetter than me
But she was raising a Cgirl on her own
And she was G7only nineteen
[Verse 7]
Can't get 'dm everyCthing they want
So I try to give 'dm Fwhat they need
Now and then I pull a Cgraveyard shift
Down at the G7factory
[Verse 8]
When I see that Clittle girl smile
Playing in Four backyard
Lord, it makes it Call worthwhile
G7It keeps me going when the Cgoing gets hard
[Chorus]
[Instrumental]
Dm  G  C  Am  Em  A7
                       **Key Change - Up 2 Semitones**
[Verse 9]
It's changing Devery day
The signs are Gall around
One more field Dgone to seed
Another barn A7falling down
[Verse 10]
Main Street's all Dboarded up
And nobody Gcares, I guess
'Cause there's a place on the Dedge of town
That's selling everyA7thing for less
[Verse 11]
But sometimes Din my dreams
I see the Gwaters rise
The river Djumps its banks
And this town is A7purified
[Verse 12]
Everything is Dwashed away
Clear to the Gcounty line
And we can start all Dover again
A7Maybe do a little Dbetter next time
[Chorus]
It's just a Gbend in the river
Where the Dwater slows Bmdown
It might not Emlook like much to A7you
But it's our homeDtown
[Chorus]
It's just a Gbend in the river
Where the Dwater slows Bmdown
It might not Emlook like much to A7you
But it's our homeDtown
[Outro]
Em  A7  D

All chords in this song (10)

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A Bend In The River

by Mark Erelli

Lyrics & chords · Original key · Capo on fret 2 (as written in this song)

Chords in this song · guitar

Mark Erelli - A Bend In The River

CAPO: 2nd fret

[Intro]

Dm G C

[Chorus]

It's just a bend in the river

C Am

Where the water slows down

Dm G

It might not look like much to you

But it's my hometown

[Verse 1]

It ain't no mystery

How this town was born

It started with a couple farms

Then the mill and the general store

[Verse 2]

Ever since the work went south

And those wheels don't run

The bars got the churches beat

By at least two to one

[Verse 3]

And I've lived 'round here

Ever since I was a kid

I used to dream of getting out

Just like those college boys did

[Verse 4]

But maybe (D)I was born

Without a rambling bone

You stay in one place long enough

G7 C

And it starts to feel like home

[Chorus]

[Verse 5]

I got married here

It'll be two years this spring

I can see her in her mama's white dress

Every time I hear the church bell ring

[Verse 6]

I know some folks say

That she could do better than me

But she was raising a girl on her own

And she was only nineteen

[Verse 7]

Can't get 'dm everything they want

So I try to give 'dm what they need

Now and then I pull a graveyard shift

Down at the factory

[Verse 8]

When I see that little girl smile

Playing in our backyard

Lord, it makes it all worthwhile

G7 C

It keeps me going when the going gets hard

[Chorus]

[Instrumental]

Dm G C Am Em A7

**Key Change - Up 2 Semitones**

[Verse 9]

It's changing every day

The signs are all around

One more field gone to seed

Another barn falling down

[Verse 10]

Main Street's all boarded up

And nobody cares, I guess

'Cause there's a place on the edge of town

That's selling everything for less

[Verse 11]

But sometimes in my dreams

I see the waters rise

The river jumps its banks

And this town is purified

[Verse 12]

Everything is washed away

Clear to the county line

And we can start all over again

A7 D

Maybe do a little better next time

[Chorus]

It's just a bend in the river

D Bm

Where the water slows down

Em A7

It might not look like much to you

But it's our hometown

[Chorus]

It's just a bend in the river

D Bm

Where the water slows down

Em A7

It might not look like much to you

But it's our hometown

[Outro]

Em A7 D

About A Bend In The River Chords by Mark Erelli

Learn how to play A Bend In The River by Mark Erelli with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “A Bend In The River chords”, “A Bend In The River guitar chords”, or “Mark Erelli A Bend In 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 A Bend In The River chords and for experienced players who want accurate A Bend In The River lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include A, Dm, G, C, F, Am.

FAQ — A Bend In The River by Mark Erelli

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What key is "A Bend In The River" in?

The chords for "A Bend In The River" show the original chord names (including A, Dm, G, C, F, Am). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.