(the | means a new measure and the / means the bass note on the current chord.)



[piano intro slow gospel thang]



Starts 3/4



Improv/no time

F |bb |f/c |d- |d- /d /e |

The ladies would put the baskets on the table

F |bb/c |d- |g- / f/a

And the men would sit beneath a shady tree

|bb |f/c |d- |d-/c |

The children would listen to a fable

Bb |a- |4/4 g7 |/ | meter

While something else came through to me

|f bb |f/c bb/d |f bb |f/c bb/d

The river got no end, just roll around the bend

|f bb |f/c bb |f |bb

Then pretty soon the women would all join in

|f |f

On the river hymn...



|c/g /e |/c / |f/a / |f/f / |

The whole congregation was standing on the banks of the river

C/g /e |/c / |f/a |c |f

We are gathered here to give a little thanks thanks



|3/4 bb |f/c |d- |d- /d /e |

The voice of the rapids will echo

F |bb/c |d- |g- / f/a |

And ricochet like an old water well

Bb |f/c |d- |d-/c |

Who d ever want to let go

Bb |a- |4/4 g7 |/ | meter

Once you sit beneath its spell

|f bb |f/c bb/d |f bb |f/c bb/d

It's dark and wide and deep, towards the sea it creeps

|f bb |f/c bb |f |bb

I'm so glad i brought along my mandolin

|f |f d |

To play the river hymn...



G |g c |

You can ride on it or drink it

F |/ / g g/b |

Poison it or dam it

C |/ / f f/a |

Fish in it and wash in it

Bb |c

Swim in it and you can die in it

|f |c |f ||

Run, you river, run



3/4 bb |f/c |d- |d- /d /e |

Son, you ain't never seen yourself

F |bb/c |d- |g- / f/a |

No crystal mirror can show it clear, come over here instead

Bb |f/c |d- |d-/c |

Son, you ain't never eased yourself

Bb |a- |4/4 g7 |/ | meter

Til you laid it down in a river bed

|f bb |f/c bb/d |f bb |f/c bb/d

If you hear a lonesome drone, it's as common as a stone

|f bb |f/c bb |f |bb

And gets louder as the day grows dim

|f |f

That's the river hymn...

|c/g /e |/c / |f/a / |f/f / |

The whole congregation was standing on the banks of the river

C/g /e |/c / |f/a |c ||f |f ||

We are gathered here to give a little thanks thanks