
the river
Bruce Springsteen
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[Intro]
C/B Am G C Em G D C
I come from down in the valley, where mister when you're young
Em G C G
They bring you up to do like your daddy done
C G D/F# Em
Me and Mary we met in high school, when she was just seventeen
Am G C
We'd ride out of that valley down to where the fields were green
Em C D G D/F#
We'd go down to the river, and into the river we'd dive
Em C D C
Oh down to the river we'd ride
Em G D C
Then I got Mary pregnant, and man that was all she wrote
Em G C G
And for my nineteenth birthday I got a union card and a wedding coat
C G D/F# Em
We went down to the courthouse, and the judge put it all to rest
Am G C
No wedding day smiles no walk down in the aisle, no flowers no wedding dress
Em C D G
That night we went down to the river, and into the river we'd dive
Em C D C
On down to the river we did ride
Em G D C
[Solo]
Em G C G C G D/F# Em Am G C Em G D C
I got a job working construction for the Johnstown Company
Em G C G
But lately there ain't been much work on account of the economy
C
Now all them things that seemed so important
G D/F# Em
Well mister they vanished right into the air
Am G C
Now I just act like I don't remember, Mary acts like she don't care
Em G
But I remember us riding in my brother's car
D C
Her body tan and wet down at the reservoir
Em G
At night on them banks I'd lie awake
C G
And pull her close just to feel each other breath she'd take
C G D/F# Em
Now those memories come back to haunt me, they haunt me like a curse
Am G C
Is a dream a lie if it don't come true, or is it something worse that sends me
Em C D G
Down to the river though I know the river is dry
D/F# Em C D C
That sends me down to the river tonight
Em C D G D/F# Em C D C
Down to the river, my baby and I, oh down the river we'd ride
Em C D G D/F# Em C D C
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
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Progression and practice
Detected progression: C/B → Am → G → C → Em → G → D → C
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