River Man Chords & Tabs
by Nick Drake
[Version Description]
All lyrics with accompanying chords, includes additional unrecorded verse, playing information and full chord legend. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQ9JBwuO128.
Song: River man
Artist: Nick Drake
Composer: Nick Drake
Album: Five leaves left
Tabbed by DJ 28th Sept 2016
IMPORTANT INFO:
On the Aadd9 and the Amadd9 there is an alternating
E bass note throughout the song, for neatness I've
not shown it against the lyrics in the tab.
Aadd9/E Aadd9 Aadd9/E Aadd9
||: / / / / / :||
Amadd9/E Amadd9 Amadd9/E Amadd9
||: / / / / / :||
It's better to try and get a groove going and not
to over-think the 5/4 rhythm, but if it helps to
break it down, you could instead count the
pattern as a bar of 3/4 followed by a bar of 2/4
1 2 3 1 2
| / / / | / / |
ACTUAL TIME SIGNATURE: 5/4 (Five beats to each bar)
1 2 3 4 5
| / / / / / |
CAPO: 3rd fret
(Chords will then sound in the recorded key of C)
IGNORE THE CHORD BOXES the website might
automatically suggest, they are not my choices,
Please just use the typed numbers shown below for
the voicings. NOTE the high E string isn't played:
Aadd9/E = 00242x F = 13321x
Aadd9 = x0242x F(b5) = 13320x
Amadd9/E = 00241x or 00250x Emmaj11 = 00204x
Amadd9 = x0241x or x0250x A13/E = 00402x
C7sus2/G = 33033x or 33533x Am13/E = 00401x
(Amadd9) = x0750x
Please take a second to scroll down to the bottom of
the page and select a star rating for my tab, thanks
=====================================================
[Intro]
Aadd9/E Aadd9 Aadd9/E Aadd9
||: / / / / / :|| [x4]
[Verse 1]
Amadd9/E C7sus2/G
Betty came by on her way----------,
F
Said she had a word to say-----------,
Aadd9/E
'Bout things today----------, and fallen leaves,
Amadd9/E C7sus2/G
Said she hadn't heard the news----------,
F
Hadn't had the time to choose--------,
Aadd9/E
A way to lose--------- what she believes
[Chorus]
Amadd9/E C7sus2/G
Gonna see the river man----------,
F
Gonna tell him all I can---------,
Aadd9/E
About the plan--------- for lilac time,
Amadd9/E C7sus2/G
If he tells me all he knows-----------,
F
'Bout the way his river flows--------,
Emmaj11
And all night shows---------- in summertime
[Break]
F F(b5) F F(b5) F F(b5)
| / / / / / | / / / / / | / / / / / |
Aadd9/E Aadd9 Aadd9/E Aadd9
||: / / / / / :|| [x2]
F F(b5) F F(b5) F F(b5)
| / / / / / | / / / / / | / / / / / |
Aadd9/E Aadd9 Aadd9/E Aadd9
||: / / / / / :|| [x4]
[Verse 2]
Amadd9/E C7sus2/G
Betty said she prayed today-----------,
F
For the sky to blow away------------,
Aadd9/E
Or maybe stay----------, ...she wasn't sure,
Amadd9/E C7sus2/G
For when she thought of summer rain---------,
F
Calling for her mind again--------,
Aadd9/E
She lost the pain--------, ...and stayed for more
[Chorus]
Amadd9/E C7sus2/G
Gonna see the river man-----------,
F
Gonna tell him all I can-----------,
Aadd9/E
About the ban---------- ...on feeling free,
Amadd9/E C7sus2/G
If he tells me all he knows-----------,
F
'Bout the way his river flows----------,
Emmaj11
I don't suppose--------- it's meant for me
[Coda]
A13/E
Oh-----, how they come and go,
Am13/E Emmaj11
Oh-----, how they come and go
Suggestion to end on:
(Amadd9)
=====================================================
Additional unrecorded verse found in Nick's notebooks
[Verse 3]
Amadd9/E C7sus2/G
Betty fell behind a while-----------,
F
Said she hadn't time to smile--------,
Aadd9/E
Or die in style----------, but still she tries,
Amadd9/E C7sus2/G
Said her time was drawing short-----------,
F
Hadn't done the things she ought--------,
Aadd9/E
Where teacher taught----------, and father flies
