Tom: C
Bb F Dm Dm C
The ladies would put the baskets on the table
Bb F Dm Dm C
And the men would sit 'neath a shady tree
Bb F Dm Dm C
The children would listen to a fable
Bb Am G7
While something else came through to me
F Bb F Bb F Bb F
The river got no end, just rollin' 'round the bend
Bb F Bb F Bb F
Then pretty soon the women would all join in
Bb F
On the river hymn...
[Chorus}
C F
The whole congregation was standing on the banks of the river
G C F C F
We are gathered here to give a little thanks thanks
[Verse]
Bb F Dm Dm C
The voice of the rapids will echo
Bb F Dm Dm C
And ricochet like an old water well
Bb F Dm Dm C
Who'd ever want to let go
Bb Am G7
Once you sit beneath its spell
F Bb F Bb F Bb F Bb
It's dark and wide and deep, towards the sea it creeps
F Bb F Bb F
I'm so glad I brought along my mandolin
Bb F
To play the river hymn...
[Bridge]
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
Bb C
Swim in it and you can die in it
C F
Run, you river, run
[Verse]
Bb F Dm Dm C
Son, you ain't never seen yourself
Bb F Dm G
No crystal mirror can show it clear, come over here instead
Bb F Dm Dm C
Son, you ain't never eased yourself
Bb Am G7
Til you laid it down in a river bed
F Bb F Bb F Bb F
If you hear a lonesome drone, it's as common as a stone
Bb F Bb F Bb F
And gets louder as the day grows dim
Bb F
That's the river hymn...
[Chorus]
C F
The whole congregation was standing on the banks of the river
G C F C F
We are gathered here to give a little thanks thanks
