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River Run

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Fmajor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

[Intro]
F Am Bb C   F Am Bb C   F Am Bb C    F Am Bb C
[First Verse]
RiFver of blAmue cBbut through the valCley
SwFept past the wiAmllows and the sBbandy Cbar
RaFn so swiAmft, loBbcked in my memC'ry
But the waFy things wAmere is not the wBbay things aCre
WFe used to swAmim in the crBbook of its Carm
In the sumFmer heat wAmho could be blBbamedC  
AvoGmided the raCpids as Fbest as we coBbuld
Never tGmhought that that stCream could be tFamed
 Am  Bb  C   F Am Bb C
[Second Verse]
FLong ago I gaAmve up tBbhat riverside vCalley
TFraded coulees for toAmwers of stBbeelC  
AGmbandoned the vCistas and vFalleys of chBbildhood
For the tGmhings that they told me were Csus4realC  
NFo more would I rAmun with the spBbeed of a cColt
Cross the gFravel down Amby water sBbideC  
To rGmace with the tCwig I tFhrew in at the bBbend
Couldn't bGmeat it thCough god knows I tFsus4riedF  
[Chorus]
Now the rCiver's not running as fBbast as it Cdid
There's a Fdam there reAmstricting the fBblowC  
And GmI don't run eCither as fFast as I cBbould
Guess that rGmiver and CI have grown oFld
 Am Bb C  F Am Bb C
[Third Verse]
Now it's stFrange in reAmturning to pBblaces of yCouth
It seems your mFemory has Ammade a mBbistakeC  
Cause the pGmlace that once sCcared you with wFhite water ruBbnning
Has been tuGmrned by decree to a Csus4lakeC  
Makes me thFink about Amhow too BbI smoothed out the wCrinkles
Made the wFaters as cAmalm as you BbpleaseC  
Makes me tGmhink about Chow that rFiver and BbI
Were both Gmhappier wChen we ran fFsus4reeF  
[Chorus]
Now the rCiver's not running as fBbast as it Cdid
There's a Fdam there reAmstricting the fBblowC  
And GmI don't run eCither as fFast as I cBbould
Guess that rGmiver and CI have grown Fsus4oldF  
Guess that rGmiver and CI have grown oFld
Am Bb F

All chords in this song (7)

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River Run

by James Keelaghan

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Csus4

Fsus4

[Intro]

F Am Bb C F Am Bb C F Am Bb C F Am Bb C

[First Verse]

F Am Bb C

River of blue cut through the valley

F Am Bb C

Swept past the willows and the sandy bar

F Am Bb C

Ran so swift, locked in my mem'ry

F Am Bb C

But the way things were is not the way things are

F Am Bb C

We used to swim in the crook of its arm

F Am Bb C

In the summer heat who could be blamed

Gm C F Bb

Avoided the rapids as best as we could

Gm C F

Never thought that that stream could be tamed

Am Bb C F Am Bb C

[Second Verse]

F Am Bb C

Long ago I gave up that riverside valley

F Am Bb C

Traded coulees for towers of steel

Gm C F Bb

Abandoned the vistas and valleys of childhood

Gm Csus4 C

For the things that they told me were real

F Am Bb C

No more would I run with the speed of a colt

F Am Bb C

Cross the gravel down by water side

Gm C F Bb

To race with the twig I threw in at the bend

Gm C Fsus4 F

Couldn't beat it though god knows I tried

[Chorus]

C Bb C

Now the river's not running as fast as it did

F Am Bb C

There's a dam there restricting the flow

Gm C F Bb

And I don't run either as fast as I could

Gm C F

Guess that river and I have grown old

Am Bb C F Am Bb C

[Third Verse]

F Am Bb C

Now it's strange in returning to places of youth

F Am Bb C

It seems your memory has made a mistake

Gm C F Bb

Cause the place that once scared you with white water running

Gm Csus4 C

Has been turned by decree to a lake

F Am Bb C

Makes me think about how too I smoothed out the wrinkles

F Am Bb C

Made the waters as calm as you please

Gm C F Bb

Makes me think about how that river and I

Gm C Fsus4 F

Were both happier when we ran free

[Chorus]

C Bb C

Now the river's not running as fast as it did

F Am Bb C

There's a dam there restricting the flow

Gm C F Bb

And I don't run either as fast as I could

Gm C Fsus4 F

Guess that river and I have grown old

Gm C F

Guess that river and I have grown old

Am Bb F

About River Run Chords by James Keelaghan

Learn how to play River Run by James Keelaghan with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “River Run chords”, “River Run guitar chords”, or “James Keelaghan River Run 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 Run chords and for experienced players who want accurate River Run lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include F, Am, Bb, C, Gm, Csus4.

FAQ — River Run by James Keelaghan

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What key is "River Run" in?

The chords for "River Run" show the original chord names (including F, Am, Bb, C, Gm, Csus4). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.