Share The River Chords And Strumming:
Did You Know? Bruce Springsteen wrote The River as a tribute to his sister and her husband. In an interview his sister Ginny stated that it was a precise description of the couples' early life together.
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Difficulty Level Of Original Recorded Song: Orange Pick
Most Advanced Rhythm: Yellow Pick (White Pick when played with The Bouncer rhythm throughout)
Most Advanced Chord Change: Orange Pick (White Pick when played with Django chords throughout)
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White Pick Level
The River Chords And Strumming, Bruce Springsteen
Django Chords:
Django D Chord
Django C Chord
Django G Chord
Django Em Chord
Django A Chord
Django G/F# Chord: 2x0033
Django G/B Chord: x20033
Strumming:
"Bouncer":
|D D U D D U |
Tempo: 117 bpm
Key: Em
Intro -
|Em - - - |G - - - |D - - - |C - G/B - |
|A - - - |G - - - |C - - - |C - - - |
Verse -
|Em - - - |G - - - |D - - - |C - - - |
|Em - - - |G - - - |D - - - |G - - - |
|C - - - |C - - - |G - G/F# - |Em - - - |
|A - - - |A - - - |G - - - |C - - - |- - - -|
I (Em)come from down in the (G)valley
Where (D)mister when you're (C)young
They (Em)bring you up to (G)do (D)like your daddy (G)done
Me and (C)Mary we met in (C)high school
When (G)she was just (G/F#)seven(Em)teen
We'd (A)drive out of this (A)valley down to (G)where the fields were (C)green
Chorus -
|Em - - - |C - - - |D - - - |G - - - |
|Em - - - |C - - - |D - - - |C - - - |
We'd go (Em)down to the (C)river
And (D)into the river we'd (G)dive
Oh (Em)down to the (C)river we'd (D)ride (C)
Verse 2 -
|Em - - - |G - - - |D - - - |C - - - |
|Em - - - |G - - - |D - - - |G - - - |
|C - - - |C - - - |G - G/F# - |Em - - - |
|A - - - |A - - - |G - - - |C - - - |
Then (Em)I got Mary (G)pregnant
And (D)man that was all she (C)wrote
And (Em)for my nineteenth (G)birthday I got a union (D)card and a wedding (G)coat
We (C)went down to the (C)courthouse
And the (G)judge put it (G/F#)all to (Em)rest
No (A)wedding day smiles no (A)walk down the aisle
No (G)flowers no wedding (C)dress
Chorus -
|Em - - - |C - - - |D - - - |G - - - |
|Em - - - |C - - - |D - - - |C - - - |
The night we went (Em)down to the (C)river
And (D)into the river we'd (G)dive
Oh (Em)down to the (C)river we did (D)ride, yeah (C)yeah
Instrumental Verse -
|Em - - - |G - - - |D - - - |C - - - |
|Em - - - |G - - - |D - - - |G - - - |
|C - - - |C - - - |G - G/F# - |Em - - - |
|A - - - |A - - - |G - - - |C - - - |- - - -|
Verse 3 -
|Em - - - |G - - - |D - - - |C - - - |
|Em - - - |G - - - |D - - - |G - - - |
|C - - - |C - - - |G - G/F# - |Em - - - |
|A - - - |A - - - |G - - - |C - - - |
I (Em)got a job working cons(G)truction for the (D)Johnstown Company (C)
But (Em)lately there ain't been (G)much work on a(D)ccount of the econo(G)my
Now (C)all them things that seemed so im(C)portant
Well Mister (G)they vanished right (G/F#)into the (Em)air
Now I just (A)act like I don't re(A)member
Mary (G)acts like she don't (C)care
Middle 8 (Verse chords) -
|Em - - - |G - - - |D - - - |C - - - |
|Em - - - |G - - - |D - - - |G - - - |
|C - - - |C - - - |G - G/F# - |Em - - - |
|A - - - |A - - - |G - - - |C - - - |
But I (Em)remember us riding in my (G)brother's car
Her body (D)tan and wet down at the (C)reservoir
At (Em)night on them banks I'd (G)lie awake
And pull her (D)close just to feel each (G)breath she'd take
Now those (C)memories come back to (C)haunt me
They (G)haunt me (G/F#)like a (Em)curse
Is a (A)dream a lie if it (A)don't come true
Or (G)is it something (C)worse
Final Chorus -
||Em - - - |C - - - |D - - - |G - - - |
|Em - - - |C - - - |D - - - |C - - - ||x4
That sends me (Em)down to the (C)river
Though I (D)know the river is (G)dry
That sends me (Em)down to the (C)river to(D)night, I, I, I(C)
(Em)Down to the (C)river
My (D)baby and (G)I
Oh (Em)down to the (C)river we (D)ride I, I, I(C)
Ooh ooh, ooh ooh
Final Chord Strum: Em
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Orange Pick Level
The River Chords And Strumming, Bruce Springsteen
Open Chords:
D, C, G, Em & Am
plus
Open G/F# Chord: 2x0033
Open C/B Chord: x20010
Strumming:
"Everyman":
|D D U U D U |
Tempo: 117 bpm
Key: Em
Intro -
|Em - - - |G - - - |D - - - |C - G/B - |
|Am - - - |G - - - |C - - - |C - - - |
Verse -
|Em - - - |G - - - |D - - - |C - - - |
|Em - - - |G - - - |D - - - |G - - - |
|C - - - |C - - - |G - G/F# - |Em - - - |
|Am - - - |Am - - - |G - - - |C - - - |- - - -|
I (Em)come from down in the (G)valley
Where (D)mister when you're (C)young
They (Em)bring you up to (G)do (D)like your daddy (G)done
Me and (C)Mary we met in (C)high school
When (G)she was just (G/F#)seven(Em)teen
We'd (Am)drive out of this (Am)valley down to (G)where the fields were (C)green
Chorus -
|Em - - - |C - - - |D - - - |G - - - |
|Em - - - |C - - - |D - - - |C - - - |
The night we went (Em)down to the (C)river
And (D)into the river we'd (G)dive
Oh (Em)down to the (C)river we did (D)ride, yeah (C)yeah
Verse 2 -
|Em - - - |G - - - |D - - - |C - - - |
|Em - - - |G - - - |D - - - |G - - - |
|C - - - |C - - - |G - G/F# - |Em - - - |
|Am - - - |Am - - - |G - - - |C - - - |
Then (Em)I got Mary (G)pregnant
And (D)man that was all she (C)wrote
And (Em)for my nineteenth (G)birthday I got a union (D)card and a wedding (G)coat
We (C)went down to the (C)courthouse
And the (G)judge put it (G/F#)all to (Em)rest
No (Am)wedding day smiles no (Am)walk down the aisle
No (G)flowers no wedding (C)dress
Chorus -
|Em - - - |C - - - |D - - - |G - - - |
|Em - - - |C - - - |D - - - |C - - - |
The night we went (Em)down to the (C)river
And (D)into the river we'd (G)dive
Oh (Em)down to the (C)river we did (D)ride, yeah (C)yeah
Instrumental Verse -
|Em - - - |G - - - |D - - - |C - - - |
|Em - - - |G - - - |D - - - |G - - - |
|C - - - |C - - - |G - G/F# - |Em - - - |
|Am - - - |Am - - - |G - - - |C - - - |
|C - - - |
Verse 3 -
|Em - - - |G - - - |D - - - |C - - - |
|Em - - - |G - - - |D - - - |G - - - |
|C - - - |C - - - |G - G/F# - |Em - - - |
|Am - - - |Am - - - |G - - - |C - - - |
I (Em)got a job working cons(G)truction for the (D)Johnstown Company (C)
But (Em)lately there ain't been (G)much work on a(D)ccount of the econo(G)my
Now (C)all them things that seemed so im(C)portant
Well Mister (G)they vanished right (G/F#)into the (Em)air
Now I just (Am)act like I don't re(Am)member
Mary (G)acts like she don't (C)care
Middle 8 (Verse chords) -
|Em - - - |G - - - |D - - - |C - - - |
|Em - - - |G - - - |D - - - |G - - - |
|C - - - |C - - - |G - G/F# - |Em - - - |
|Am - - - |Am - - - |G - - - |C - - - |
But I (Em)remember us riding in my (G)brother's car
Her body (D)tan and wet down at the (C)reservoir
At (Em)night on them banks I'd (G)lie awake
And pull her (D)close just to feel each (G)breath she'd take
Now those (C)memories come back to (C)haunt me
They (G)haunt me (G/F#)like a (Em)curse
Is a (Am)dream a lie if it (Am)don't come true
Or (G)is it something (C)worse
Final Chorus -
||Em - - - |C - - - |D - - - |G - - - |
|Em - - - |C - - - |D - - - |C - - - ||x4
That sends me (Em)down to the (C)river
Though I (D)know the river is (G)dry
That sends me (Em)down to the (C)river to(D)night, I, I, I(C)
(Em)Down to the (C)river
My (D)baby and (G)I
Oh (Em)down to the (C)river we (D)ride I, I, I(C)
Ooh ooh, ooh ooh
Final Chord Strum: Em
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Picked Version A
Open Chords:
D, C, G, Em & Am
plus
Open G/F# Chord: 2x0033
Open C/B Chord: x20010
Strumming:
"Everyman":
|D D U U D U |
Tempo: 117 bpm
Key: Em
Intro -
Verse -
I (Em)come from down in the (G)valley
Where (D)mister when you're (C)young
They (Em)bring you up to (G)do (D)like your daddy (G)done
Me and (C)Mary we met in (C)high school
When (G)she was just (G/F#)seven(Em)teen
We'd (Am)drive out of this (Am)valley down to (G)where the fields were (C)green
Chorus -
|Em - - - |C - - - |D - - - |G - - - |
|Em - - - |C - - - |D - - - |C - - - |
The night we went (Em)down to the (C)river
And (D)into the river we'd (G)dive
Oh (Em)down to the (C)river we did (D)ride, yeah (C)yeah
Verse 2 -
Then (Em)I got Mary (G)pregnant
And (D)man that was all she (C)wrote
And (Em)for my nineteenth (G)birthday I got a union (D)card and a wedding (G)coat
We (C)went down to the (C)courthouse
And the (G)judge put it (G/F#)all to (Em)rest
No (Am)wedding day smiles no (Am)walk down the aisle
No (G)flowers no wedding (C)dress
Chorus -
|Em - - - |C - - - |D - - - |G - - - |
|Em - - - |C - - - |D - - - |C - - - |
The night we went (Em)down to the (C)river
And (D)into the river we'd (G)dive
Oh (Em)down to the (C)river we did (D)ride, yeah (C)yeah
Instrumental Verse -
|Em - - - |G - - - |D - - - |C - - - |
|Em - - - |G - - - |D - - - |G - - - |
|C - - - |C - - - |G - G/F# - |Em - - - |
|Am - - - |Am - - - |G - - - |C - - - |
|C - - - |
Verse 3 -
|Em - - - |G - - - |D - - - |C - - - |
|Em - - - |G - - - |D - - - |G - - - |
|C - - - |C - - - |G - G/F# - |Em - - - |
|Am - - - |Am - - - |G - - - |C - - - |
I (Em)got a job working cons(G)truction for the (D)Johnstown Company (C)
But (Em)lately there ain't been (G)much work on a(D)ccount of the econo(G)my
Now (C)all them things that seemed so im(C)portant
Well Mister (G)they vanished right (G/F#)into the (Em)air
Now I just (Am)act like I don't re(Am)member
Mary (G)acts like she don't (C)care
Middle 8 (Verse chords) -
|Em - - - |G - - - |D - - - |C - - - |
|Em - - - |G - - - |D - - - |G - - - |
|C - - - |C - - - |G - G/F# - |Em - - - |
|Am - - - |Am - - - |G - - - |C - - - |
But I (Em)remember us riding in my (G)brother's car
Her body (D)tan and wet down at the (C)reservoir
At (Em)night on them banks I'd (G)lie awake
And pull her (D)close just to feel each (G)breath she'd take
Now those (C)memories come back to (C)haunt me
They (G)haunt me (G/F#)like a (Em)curse
Is a (Am)dream a lie if it (Am)don't come true
Or (G)is it something (C)worse
Final Chorus -
||Em - - - |C - - - |D - - - |G - - - |
|Em - - - |C - - - |D - - - |C - - - ||x4
That sends me (Em)down to the (C)river
Though I (D)know the river is (G)dry
That sends me (Em)down to the (C)river to(D)night, I, I, I(C)
(Em)Down to the (C)river
My (D)baby and (G)I
Oh (Em)down to the (C)river we (D)ride I, I, I(C)
Ooh ooh, ooh ooh
Final Chord Strum: Em
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Picked Version B
Open Chords:
D, C, G, Em & Am
plus
Open G/F# Chord: 2x0033
Open C/B Chord: x20010
Strumming:
"Everyman":
|D D U U D U |
Tempo: 117 bpm
Key: Em
Intro -
Verse -
I (Em)come from down in the (G)valley
Where (D)mister when you're (C)young
They (Em)bring you up to (G)do (D)like your daddy (G)done
Me and (C)Mary we met in (C)high school
When (G)she was just (G/F#)seven(Em)teen
We'd (Am)drive out of this (Am)valley down to (G)where the fields were (C)green
Chorus -
|Em - - - |C - - - |D - - - |G - - - |
|Em - - - |C - - - |D - - - |C - - - |
The night we went (Em)down to the (C)river
And (D)into the river we'd (G)dive
Oh (Em)down to the (C)river we did (D)ride, yeah (C)yeah
Verse 2 -
Then (Em)I got Mary (G)pregnant
And (D)man that was all she (C)wrote
And (Em)for my nineteenth (G)birthday I got a union (D)card and a wedding (G)coat
We (C)went down to the (C)courthouse
And the (G)judge put it (G/F#)all to (Em)rest
No (Am)wedding day smiles no (Am)walk down the aisle
No (G)flowers no wedding (C)dress
Chorus -
|Em - - - |C - - - |D - - - |G - - - |
|Em - - - |C - - - |D - - - |C - - - |
The night we went (Em)down to the (C)river
And (D)into the river we'd (G)dive
Oh (Em)down to the (C)river we did (D)ride, yeah (C)yeah
Instrumental Verse -
|Em - - - |G - - - |D - - - |C - - - |
|Em - - - |G - - - |D - - - |G - - - |
|C - - - |C - - - |G - G/F# - |Em - - - |
|Am - - - |Am - - - |G - - - |C - - - |
|C - - - |
Verse 3 -
|Em - - - |G - - - |D - - - |C - - - |
|Em - - - |G - - - |D - - - |G - - - |
|C - - - |C - - - |G - G/F# - |Em - - - |
|Am - - - |Am - - - |G - - - |C - - - |
I (Em)got a job working cons(G)truction for the (D)Johnstown Company (C)
But (Em)lately there ain't been (G)much work on a(D)ccount of the econo(G)my
Now (C)all them things that seemed so im(C)portant
Well Mister (G)they vanished right (G/F#)into the (Em)air
Now I just (Am)act like I don't re(Am)member
Mary (G)acts like she don't (C)care
Middle 8 (Verse chords) -
|Em - - - |G - - - |D - - - |C - - - |
|Em - - - |G - - - |D - - - |G - - - |
|C - - - |C - - - |G - G/F# - |Em - - - |
|Am - - - |Am - - - |G - - - |C - - - |
But I (Em)remember us riding in my (G)brother's car
Her body (D)tan and wet down at the (C)reservoir
At (Em)night on them banks I'd (G)lie awake
And pull her (D)close just to feel each (G)breath she'd take
Now those (C)memories come back to (C)haunt me
They (G)haunt me (G/F#)like a (Em)curse
Is a (Am)dream a lie if it (Am)don't come true
Or (G)is it something (C)worse
Final Chorus -
||Em - - - |C - - - |D - - - |G - - - |
|Em - - - |C - - - |D - - - |C - - - ||x4
That sends me (Em)down to the (C)river
Though I (D)know the river is (G)dry
That sends me (Em)down to the (C)river to(D)night, I, I, I(C)
(Em)Down to the (C)river
My (D)baby and (G)I
Oh (Em)down to the (C)river we (D)ride I, I, I(C)
Ooh ooh, ooh ooh
Final Chord Strum: Em
Have A Guitar Learning Question?
Click below to join hundreds of beginner guitar players in my Free Facebook community group and have your questions answered by me and our excellent members...
The River Videos
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