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River Man

Nick Drake

Text File

#----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE---------------------------------#
#This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the #
#song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research. #
#------------------------------------------------------------------------------##
From: Harlan L Thompson 

RIVERMAN- Nick Drake

Add9
Am9                   Gmadd4
Betty came by on her way
                        F
Said she had a word to say
                   Aadd9
'Bout things today and the falling leaves
Am9                         Gmadd4
Said she hadn't heard the news
                         F
Hadn't had the time to choose
             Aadd9
A way to lose what she believes

Gonna see the riverman
Gonna tell him all I can
About the plan for my return
If he tells me all he knows
'Bout the way his river flows
And all night shows in summertime

Betty said she prayed today
For the sky to blow away
Or maybe stay, she wasn't sure
For when she thought of summer end
Calling for her mind again
She lost the pain, and stayed for more

Gonna see the riverman
Gonna tell him all I can
About the ban on feeling free
If he tells me all he knows
'Bout the way his river flows
I don't suppose there's one for me

Oh how they come and go
Oh how they come and go


 Aadd9 Am9 Gmadd4 F
E  0    x    x    x
B  2    0    3    1
G  4    5    3    2
D  2    2    5    3
A  0    0    3    3
E  0    0    3    1

PICKING PATTERN (in Aadd9 but repeat for each chord):
E -------------------|--------------------|
B ---2---2-------2---|---2---2-------2----|
G ---4---4-------4---|---4---4-------4----|
D ---2---2-2-----2-2-|---2---2-2-----2-2--|
A ---0---0-------0---|---0---0-------0----|
E -0---0-----0-0-----|-0---0-----0-0------|

NOTES: Play with capo on the third fret.  Of course, no Nick Drake song
could be easy to play.  This song is in 5/4 time, so there is an extra
beat.  It is extremely tricky to play correctly as a result. The key to
this song in the timing.

(sent by Harlan at harlant@hawaii.edu)


From: bike@xs4all.nl (bike)

River man - Nick Drake
Album - Five leaves left

I have figured out how I can play that song and not what Nick's doing. First
of all, I'm not so good at playing, and second, I can't hear it exact enough.
Of this song I only give the chords because I don't have any feeling how
to fingerpick it. Any suggestions welcome.

Intro:

 Bm        | Bsus4     | Bm        | Bsus4     |

Bm
Betty came by on her way
A
Said she has a word to say
G
About things today
E
And fallen leaves

Said she hadn't heard the news
Hadn't had the time to choose
A way to lose
But she believes

Going to see the river man
Going to tell him all I can
About the plan
For lilac time

If he tells me all he knows
About the way his river flows
And all night shows
In summertime

Betty said she prayed today
For the sky to blow away
Or maybe stay
She wasn't sure

For when she thought of summer rain
Calling for her mind again
She lost the pain
And stayed for more

Going to see the river man
Going to tell him all I can
About the ban
On feeling free

If he tells me all he knows
About the way his river flows
I don't suppose
It's meant for me

Outro:
Bm and Bsus4 (I know, I'm not very exact at this point but I mostly skip it)

Oh, how they come and go
Oh, how they come and go

Any comments, suggestions can be mailed to : bike@hacktic.nl or posted in
this newsgroup.