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Riverboat Song

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[Intro]
D A D
[Verse]
Thought DI'd sing to the river
Just Gcheer her on her Dway
DShe's a blue old girl
DThat no one cares to travel on Athese days
I know Dsome say she's lazy
She was Gfast enough beDfore
DHalf of every cotton crop
Came fAloating past my Ddoor
And there Gused to be a dance hall
When the gambling boat still Dran
The Eair was full of lamp light
And the sound of dixie Aland
DBut the rivermen have gone now
She's a meGlancholy gDirl
DShe never sees the delta queen
Or the AElabama Apearl
And she Dlooks like she's lonely
As she Gtumbles to the Dsea
DShe's headed down to Mexico
To Afind some comDpany
[Interlude]
D D G D
D D E A
D D G D
D D A D
[Verse]
GWell the only time I cursed her
GWas the spring of '6D5
She Erolled across my bean field
ELooking more than ten miles Awide
Well I Dshoulda seen it comin'
As it Gdoes from time to Dtime
A Dwoman's gonna make a fuss
DWhen no one pEays her any mAind
So thought DI'd sing to the river
Just cGheer her on her Dway
DShe's a blue old girl
Dthat no one cares to Atravel on these Ddays
DShe's a blue old girl
that Dno one cares
to Atravel on these Ddays
[Outro]
D A D

All chords in this song (4)

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Riverboat Song

by Gillian Welch

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

[Intro]

D A D

[Verse]

Thought I'd sing to the river

G D

Just cheer her on her way

She's a blue old girl

D A

That no one cares to travel on these days

I know some say she's lazy

G D

She was fast enough before

Half of every cotton crop

A D

Came floating past my door

And there used to be a dance hall

When the gambling boat still ran

The air was full of lamp light

And the sound of dixie land

But the rivermen have gone now

G D

She's a melancholy girl

She never sees the delta queen

E A

Or the Alabama pearl

And she looks like she's lonely

G D

As she tumbles to the sea

She's headed down to Mexico

A D

To find some company

[Interlude]

D D G D

D D E A

D D G D

D D A D

[Verse]

Well the only time I cursed her

G D

Was the spring of '65

She rolled across my bean field

E A

Looking more than ten miles wide

Well I shoulda seen it comin'

G D

As it does from time to time

A woman's gonna make a fuss

D E A

When no one pays her any mind

So thought I'd sing to the river

G D

Just cheer her on her way

She's a blue old girl

D A D

that no one cares to travel on these days

She's a blue old girl

that no one cares

A D

to travel on these days

[Outro]

D A D

About Riverboat Song Chords by Gillian Welch

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

FAQ — Riverboat Song by Gillian Welch

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Is "Riverboat Song" easy to play on guitar?

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What key is "Riverboat Song" in?

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