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Key
E Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Capo
None
Chords
E · A · B
Johnny Cash’s classic tale of chasing love down the Mississippi River. Beginner difficulty in the key of E.
Train Beat Strum (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Keep a steady, driving rhythm to mimic the flow of the river.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
E
Now I taught the weepin’ willow how to cry, cry, cry
A E
And I showed the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky
E
And the tears I cried for that woman are gonna flood you, Big River
A E
Then I’m gonna sit right here until I die
Chorus
E A
I met her accidentally in St. Paul, Minnesota
E A
And it tore me up every time I heard her drawl, Southern drawl
E A
Then I heard my dream was back downstream, cavortin’ in Davenport
E B
And I followed you, Big River, when you called
Verse 2
E
Then you took me to St. Louis later on, down the river
A E
A freighter said she’s been here but she’s gone, boy, she’s gone
E
I found her trail in Memphis, but she just walked up the bluff
A E
She raised a few eyebrows and then she went on down alone
Chorus
E A
I met her accidentally in St. Paul, Minnesota
E A
And it tore me up every time I heard her drawl, Southern drawl
E A
Then I heard my dream was back downstream, cavortin’ in Davenport
E B
And I followed you, Big River, when you called
Verse 3
E
Now, won’t you batter down by Baton Rouge, River Queen, roll it on
A E
Take that woman on down to New Orleans, New Orleans
E
Go on, I’ve had enough, dump my blues down in the gulf
A E
She loves you, Big River, more than me
Chorus
E A
I met her accidentally in St. Paul, Minnesota
E A
And it tore me up every time I heard her drawl, Southern drawl
E A
Then I heard my dream was back downstream, cavortin’ in Davenport
E B
And I followed you, Big River, when you called
Practice tip: Focus on the quick change from the E chord to the A chord, which drives the song’s rhythm. The B chord only appears once per chorus, so take your time to nail that transition.
Etap to play
Atap to play
Btap to play
Key
E Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Tuning
G-C-E-A
Chords
E · A · B
Johnny Cash’s classic tale of chasing love down the Mississippi River. Beginner difficulty in the key of E.
Train Beat Strum (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Keep a steady, driving rhythm to mimic the flow of the river.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
E
Now I taught the weepin’ willow how to cry, cry, cry
A E
And I showed the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky
E
And the tears I cried for that woman are gonna flood you, Big River
A E
Then I’m gonna sit right here until I die
Chorus
E A
I met her accidentally in St. Paul, Minnesota
E A
And it tore me up every time I heard her drawl, Southern drawl
E A
Then I heard my dream was back downstream, cavortin’ in Davenport
E B
And I followed you, Big River, when you called
Verse 2
E
Then you took me to St. Louis later on, down the river
A E
A freighter said she’s been here but she’s gone, boy, she’s gone
E
I found her trail in Memphis, but she just walked up the bluff
A E
She raised a few eyebrows and then she went on down alone
Chorus
E A
I met her accidentally in St. Paul, Minnesota
E A
And it tore me up every time I heard her drawl, Southern drawl
E A
Then I heard my dream was back downstream, cavortin’ in Davenport
E B
And I followed you, Big River, when you called
Verse 3
E
Now, won’t you batter down by Baton Rouge, River Queen, roll it on
A E
Take that woman on down to New Orleans, New Orleans
E
Go on, I’ve had enough, dump my blues down in the gulf
A E
She loves you, Big River, more than me
Chorus
E A
I met her accidentally in St. Paul, Minnesota
E A
And it tore me up every time I heard her drawl, Southern drawl
E A
Then I heard my dream was back downstream, cavortin’ in Davenport
E B
And I followed you, Big River, when you called
Practice tip: Focus on the quick change from the E chord to the A chord, which drives the song’s rhythm. The B chord only appears once per chorus, so take your time to nail that transition.
Etap to play
Atap to play
Btap to play
Key
E Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Left Hand
Root notes
Chords
E · A · B
Johnny Cash’s classic tale of chasing love down the Mississippi River. Beginner difficulty in the key of E.
Train Beat Strum (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Keep a steady, driving rhythm to mimic the flow of the river.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
E
Now I taught the weepin’ willow how to cry, cry, cry
A E
And I showed the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky
E
And the tears I cried for that woman are gonna flood you, Big River
A E
Then I’m gonna sit right here until I die
Chorus
E A
I met her accidentally in St. Paul, Minnesota
E A
And it tore me up every time I heard her drawl, Southern drawl
E A
Then I heard my dream was back downstream, cavortin’ in Davenport
E B
And I followed you, Big River, when you called
Verse 2
E
Then you took me to St. Louis later on, down the river
A E
A freighter said she’s been here but she’s gone, boy, she’s gone
E
I found her trail in Memphis, but she just walked up the bluff
A E
She raised a few eyebrows and then she went on down alone
Chorus
E A
I met her accidentally in St. Paul, Minnesota
E A
And it tore me up every time I heard her drawl, Southern drawl
E A
Then I heard my dream was back downstream, cavortin’ in Davenport
E B
And I followed you, Big River, when you called
Verse 3
E
Now, won’t you batter down by Baton Rouge, River Queen, roll it on
A E
Take that woman on down to New Orleans, New Orleans
E
Go on, I’ve had enough, dump my blues down in the gulf
A E
She loves you, Big River, more than me
Chorus
E A
I met her accidentally in St. Paul, Minnesota
E A
And it tore me up every time I heard her drawl, Southern drawl
E A
Then I heard my dream was back downstream, cavortin’ in Davenport
E B
And I followed you, Big River, when you called
Practice tip: Focus on the quick change from the E chord to the A chord, which drives the song’s rhythm. The B chord only appears once per chorus, so take your time to nail that transition.
Etap to play
Atap to play
Btap to play
Key
E Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Tuning
gDGBD (Open G)
Chords
E · A · B
Johnny Cash’s classic tale of chasing love down the Mississippi River. Beginner difficulty in the key of E.
Train Beat Strum (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Keep a steady, driving rhythm to mimic the flow of the river.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
E
Now I taught the weepin’ willow how to cry, cry, cry
A E
And I showed the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky
E
And the tears I cried for that woman are gonna flood you, Big River
A E
Then I’m gonna sit right here until I die
Chorus
E A
I met her accidentally in St. Paul, Minnesota
E A
And it tore me up every time I heard her drawl, Southern drawl
E A
Then I heard my dream was back downstream, cavortin’ in Davenport
E B
And I followed you, Big River, when you called
Verse 2
E
Then you took me to St. Louis later on, down the river
A E
A freighter said she’s been here but she’s gone, boy, she’s gone
E
I found her trail in Memphis, but she just walked up the bluff
A E
She raised a few eyebrows and then she went on down alone
Chorus
E A
I met her accidentally in St. Paul, Minnesota
E A
And it tore me up every time I heard her drawl, Southern drawl
E A
Then I heard my dream was back downstream, cavortin’ in Davenport
E B
And I followed you, Big River, when you called
Verse 3
E
Now, won’t you batter down by Baton Rouge, River Queen, roll it on
A E
Take that woman on down to New Orleans, New Orleans
E
Go on, I’ve had enough, dump my blues down in the gulf
A E
She loves you, Big River, more than me
Chorus
E A
I met her accidentally in St. Paul, Minnesota
E A
And it tore me up every time I heard her drawl, Southern drawl
E A
Then I heard my dream was back downstream, cavortin’ in Davenport
E B
And I followed you, Big River, when you called
Practice tip: Focus on the quick change from the E chord to the A chord, which drives the song’s rhythm. The B chord only appears once per chorus, so take your time to nail that transition.
Etap to play
Atap to play
Btap to play
Key
E Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Tuning
G-D-A-E
Chords
E · A · B
Johnny Cash’s classic tale of chasing love down the Mississippi River. Beginner difficulty in the key of E.
Train Beat Strum (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Keep a steady, driving rhythm to mimic the flow of the river.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
E
Now I taught the weepin’ willow how to cry, cry, cry
A E
And I showed the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky
E
And the tears I cried for that woman are gonna flood you, Big River
A E
Then I’m gonna sit right here until I die
Chorus
E A
I met her accidentally in St. Paul, Minnesota
E A
And it tore me up every time I heard her drawl, Southern drawl
E A
Then I heard my dream was back downstream, cavortin’ in Davenport
E B
And I followed you, Big River, when you called
Verse 2
E
Then you took me to St. Louis later on, down the river
A E
A freighter said she’s been here but she’s gone, boy, she’s gone
E
I found her trail in Memphis, but she just walked up the bluff
A E
She raised a few eyebrows and then she went on down alone
Chorus
E A
I met her accidentally in St. Paul, Minnesota
E A
And it tore me up every time I heard her drawl, Southern drawl
E A
Then I heard my dream was back downstream, cavortin’ in Davenport
E B
And I followed you, Big River, when you called
Verse 3
E
Now, won’t you batter down by Baton Rouge, River Queen, roll it on
A E
Take that woman on down to New Orleans, New Orleans
E
Go on, I’ve had enough, dump my blues down in the gulf
A E
She loves you, Big River, more than me
Chorus
E A
I met her accidentally in St. Paul, Minnesota
E A
And it tore me up every time I heard her drawl, Southern drawl
E A
Then I heard my dream was back downstream, cavortin’ in Davenport
E B
And I followed you, Big River, when you called
Practice tip: Focus on the quick change from the E chord to the A chord, which drives the song’s rhythm. The B chord only appears once per chorus, so take your time to nail that transition.
Etap to play
Atap to play
Btap to play
Key
E Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Harp Key
C Diatonic
Chords
E · A · B
Johnny Cash’s classic tale of chasing love down the Mississippi River. Beginner difficulty in the key of E.
Train Beat Strum (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Keep a steady, driving rhythm to mimic the flow of the river.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
E
Now I taught the weepin’ willow how to cry, cry, cry
A E
And I showed the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky
E
And the tears I cried for that woman are gonna flood you, Big River
A E
Then I’m gonna sit right here until I die
Chorus
E A
I met her accidentally in St. Paul, Minnesota
E A
And it tore me up every time I heard her drawl, Southern drawl
E A
Then I heard my dream was back downstream, cavortin’ in Davenport
E B
And I followed you, Big River, when you called
Verse 2
E
Then you took me to St. Louis later on, down the river
A E
A freighter said she’s been here but she’s gone, boy, she’s gone
E
I found her trail in Memphis, but she just walked up the bluff
A E
She raised a few eyebrows and then she went on down alone
Chorus
E A
I met her accidentally in St. Paul, Minnesota
E A
And it tore me up every time I heard her drawl, Southern drawl
E A
Then I heard my dream was back downstream, cavortin’ in Davenport
E B
And I followed you, Big River, when you called
Verse 3
E
Now, won’t you batter down by Baton Rouge, River Queen, roll it on
A E
Take that woman on down to New Orleans, New Orleans
E
Go on, I’ve had enough, dump my blues down in the gulf
A E
She loves you, Big River, more than me
Chorus
E A
I met her accidentally in St. Paul, Minnesota
E A
And it tore me up every time I heard her drawl, Southern drawl
E A
Then I heard my dream was back downstream, cavortin’ in Davenport
E B
And I followed you, Big River, when you called
Practice tip: Focus on the quick change from the E chord to the A chord, which drives the song’s rhythm. The B chord only appears once per chorus, so take your time to nail that transition.