The Band - The River Hymn: chords

     A#                   F              Dm  C
The ladies would put the baskets on the table
A#                 F            Dm       C
And the men would sit 'neath a shady tree
A#                  F           Dm  C
The children would listen to a fable
A#              Am                   G7
While something else came through to me
     F     A#    F   A#     F        A#        F
The river got no end, just rollin' 'round the bend
A#     F     A#       F          A#       F
Then pretty soon the women would all join in
A#            F
On the river hymn...

Chorus:
      C                                     F
The whole congregation was standing on the banks of the river
 G                                      F      C    F
We are gathered here to give a little thanks thanks

The voice of the rapids will echo
And ricochet like an old water well
Who d ever want to let go
Once you sit beneath its spell
It's dark and wide and deep, towards the sea it creeps
I'm so glad I brought along my mandolin
To play the river hymn

G                             C
You can ride on it or drink it
F                  G
Poison it or dam it
C                       F
Fish in it and wash in it
A#                    C
Swim in it and you can die in it
C                F
Run, you river, run

You can ride on it or drink it
Poison it or dam it
Fish in it and wash in it
Swim in it and you can die in it
Run, you river, run
Son, you ain't never seen yourself

No crystal mirror can show it clear, come over here instead
Son, you ain't never eased yourself
Til you laid it down in a river bed
If you hear a lonesome drone, it's as common as a stone
And gets louder as the day grows dim
That's the river hymn

Chorus:
The whole congregation was standing on the banks of the river
We are gathered here to give a little thanks thanks