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The River

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Step 1 / 52Position: 9
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The River
Bruce Springsteen
[Intro]
Em G D C Am G C C
Ce|--------------------------------------------|
B|--------------12-10-8------12-10-8-10-------|
G|-9--8-9-11-12---------8b--------------8b----|
D|--------------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------|
[Verse]
I Emcome from down in the vGalley Where mDister, when you're yCoung
They brEming you up to dGo lCike your daddy dGone
Me and MCary we met in high school When shGe was just sDeventEmeen
We'd dAmrive out of this valley down to whGere the fields were grCeen
[Chorus]
We'd go dEmown to the rCiver And Dinto the river we'd dGive
Oh dEmown to the rCiver we’d rDideC  
[Verse]
Then EmI got Mary pregnaGnt And Dman, that was all she wCrote
And Emfor my 19th bGirthday I got a union cCard and a wedding cGoat
We wCent down to the courthouse And the jGudge put it Dall to rEmest
No wAmedding day smiles, no walk down the aisle
No flGowers, no wedding drCess
[Chorus]
That night we went Emdown to the Criver
And Dinto the river we'd dGive
Oh dEmown to the rCiver we did rDideC  
[Solo]
(backing chords for the solo are the same as the verses)
| Em| G| D| C|
| Em| G| C| G|
| C| C| G   D| Em|
| Am| Am| G| C|
e|-------------------------------------10-10--12--10-12-10--12--10-12-10-------------------|
B|--------------12-10-8------12--12-12------------------------------------12--12-10-8------|
G|-9--8-9-11-12---------8b------------------------------------------------------------8b---|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
e|------------------------------------7----------------------------------------------------|
B|-12--10----10---8-10-8-----------------7-------------------------------------------------|
G|-----------------------8b------7----------8b---------------------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
[Verse]
I Emgot a job working constGruction for the DJohnstown CompanCy
But lEmately there ain't been mGuch work on accCount of the economGy
Now Call them things that seemed so important
Well mister thGey vanished right Dinto the airEm  
Now I just Amact like I don't remember Mary Gacts like she don't cCare
[Bridge]
But I remEmember us riding in my brGother's car Her body tDan and wet down at
the rCeservoir At nEmight on them banks I'd lGie awake
And pull her clCose just to feel each bGreath she'd take
Now those mCemories come back to haunt me
They hGaunt me lDike a cEmurse
Is a drAmeam a lie if it don't come true Or Gis it something wCorse
[Chorus]
That sends me dEmown to the rCiver Though I knDow the river is dGry
That sends me dEmown to the rCiver tonDightC  
DEmown to the rCiver my bDaby and GI
Oh dEmown to the rCiver we rDide COoh...
[Outro]
Em C D G Em C D C
Em C D G Em C D C
All chords in this song (5)

The story behind the song

This song is a precise and heartfelt tribute to Bruce Springsteen's sister and brother-in-law, depicting their early life together. It captures the essence of readjusting dreams to face life as it truly is, rather than an imagined world. The song, which features a haunting harmonica part, also explores how economic difficulties intertwine with local culture, foreshadowing the sound of his next album, Nebraska. It stands as a powerful outline of resilience and the realities of life.

AI-written from these sources:The River (Bruce Springsteen song) — Wikipedia ↗Bruce Springsteen — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

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About The River Chords by Bruce Springsteen

Learn how to play The River by Bruce Springsteen with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The River chords”, “The River guitar chords”, or “Bruce Springsteen 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 The River chords and for experienced players who want accurate The River lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Em, G, D, C, Am, B.

FAQ — The River by Bruce Springsteen

How do I play "The River" by Bruce Springsteen on guitar?

Open the free chords for "The River" by Bruce Springsteen 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 "The River" by Bruce Springsteen free?

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

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "The River"?

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

Is "The River" easy to play on guitar?

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

What key is "The River" in?

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