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Version 1 Version 2
Song: River man
Artist: Nick Drake
Composer: Nick Drake
Album: Five leaves left
Tabbed by DJ ('DiddyD') for ultimateGuitar- 28th Sept 2016
On the Aadd9 and the Amadd9 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.
TIME SIGNATURE: 5/4 (Five beats to each bar)
CAPO: 3rd fret
(Chords will then sound in the recorded key of C)
NOTE: Please IGNORE ANY CHORD BOXES the website might
automatically suggest and use the typed shapes shown below.
The high E string isn't played:
Aadd9/E = 00242x C7sus2/G = 33033x A13/E = 00402x
Aadd9 = x0242x F = 13321x Am13/E = 00401x
Amadd9/E = 00241x F(b5) = 13320x (Amadd9) = x0750x
Amadd9 = x0241x A7-5/E = 00204x
Please select a star rating for this tab, many 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--------,
A7-5/E
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----------,
A7-5/E
I don't suppose--------- it's meant for me
[Coda]
A13/E
Oh-----, how they come and go,
Am13/E A7-5/E
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