Song: River man
Artist: Nick Drake
Composer: Nick Drake
Album: Five leaves left
Tabbed by DJ ('DiddyD') for ultimateGuitar.com
28th Sept 2016
On the A and the Am there is an alternating
E bass note throughout, but, for neatness, I've
not shown it against the lyrics. The intro shows
roughly how the pattern falls on the bars of 5/4,
it's better to try and get a groove going and not
to over-think the rhythm.
Naming the Gm chord was a guess, I'm sure it has
an even more complicated name, but the important
thing is the shape shown below.
TIME SIGNATURE: 5/4
CAPO: 3rd fret
(Chords will then sound in the recorded key of C)
N.B.
Please IGNORE ANY POP-UP CHORD BOXES the website
might automatically suggest and use the typed
shapes shown below:
A/E = 002220 A-5/E = 002240
Am/E = 002210 A7/E = 002020
Gm6-5 = 330330 Am7/E = 002010
F = 133211
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************************************************
[Intro]
A/E A A/E A A/E A A/E A
||: / / / / / | / / / / / :|| [x2]
[Verse 1]
Am/E Gm6-5
Betty came by on her way----------,
F
Said she had a word to say-----------,
A/E
'Bout things today----------, and fallen leaves,
Am/E Gm6-5
Said she hadn't heard the news----------,
F
Hadn't had the time to choose--------,
A/E
A way to lose------- ...what she believes!
[Chorus]
Am/E Gm6-5
Gonna see the river man----------,
F
Gonna tell him all I can---------,
A/E
About the plan--------- ...for lilac time,
Am/E Gm6-5
If he tells me all he knows-----------,
F
'Bout the way his river flows--------,
A-5/E
And all night shows---------- ...in summertime!
[Break]
F
||: / / / / / | / / / / / | / / / / / |
A/E A A/E A A/E A A/E A
| / / / / / | / / / / / :||[x2]
A/E A A/E A A/E A A/E A
| / / / / / | / / / / / |
[Verse 2]
Am/E Gm6-5
Betty said she prayed today-----------,
F
For the sky to blow away------------,
A/E
Or maybe stay----------, ...she wasn't sure,
Am/E Gm6-5
For when she thought of summer rain--------,
F
Calling for her mind again--------,
A/E
She lost the pain-------, ...and stayed for more!
[Chorus]
Am/E Gm6-5
Gonna see the river man----------,
F
Gonna tell him all I can-----------,
A/E
About the ban--------- ...on feeling free,
Am/E Gm6-5
If he tells me all he knows-----------,
F
'Bout the way his river flows----------,
A-5/E
I don't suppose--------- ...it's meant for me!
[Coda]
A7/E
Oh-----, how they come and go,
Am7/E A/E A-5/E
Oh-----, how they come and go!
*****************************************************
Additional unrecorded verse found in Nick's notebooks:
[Verse 3]
Am/E Gm6-5
Betty fell behind a while-----------,
F
Said she hadn't time to smile--------,
A/E
Or die in style--------, ...but still she tries,
Am/E Gm6-5
Said her time was drawing short--------,
F
Hadn't done the things she ought--------,
A/E
Where teacher taught-------, ...and father flies!
