Folk, Pop

River Chords

Joni Mitchell Intermediate Key of C 5 Chords 3 min read

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Key

C Major

Difficulty

Intermediate

Capo

None

Chords

C · Am · F · G · Dm

Joni Mitchell’s poignant holiday song about longing and regret. Intermediate difficulty in the key of C.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a light fingerpicking pattern on the verses to match the original’s piano feel, and switch to the strum pattern for the choruses.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C

It’s coming on Christmas

G

They’re cutting down trees

Am

They’re putting up reindeer

Em F

And singing songs of joy and peace

C

Oh I wish I had a river

G

I could skate away on

Chorus

F

But it don’t snow here

C

It stays pretty green

G

I’m gonna make a lot of money

Am Em

Then I’m gonna quit this crazy scene

F

I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

F C

I wish I had a river so long

G Am

I would teach my feet to fly

F

Oh I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

Verse 2

C

I made my baby cry

G

He tried hard to help me

Am

You know, he put me at ease

Em

And he loved me so naughty

F

Made me weak in the knees

C

Oh I wish I had a river

G

I could skate away on

Chorus

F

But it don’t snow here

C

It stays pretty green

G

I’m gonna make a lot of money

Am Em

Then I’m gonna quit this crazy scene

F

I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

F C

I wish I had a river so long

G Am

I would teach my feet to fly

F

Oh I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

Verse 3

C

I’m so hard to handle

G

I’m selfish and I’m sad

Am

Now I’ve gone and lost the best baby

Em

That I ever had

F

Oh I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

Chorus

F

But it don’t snow here

C

It stays pretty green

G

I’m gonna make a lot of money

Am Em

Then I’m gonna quit this crazy scene

F

I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

F C

I wish I had a river so long

G Am

I would teach my feet to fly

F

Oh I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

Bridge

F

I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

Outro

C

You know, I wish I had a river

G

I could skate away on

Am Em

I wish I had a river so long

F C

I would teach my feet to fly

F

Oh I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

F

I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

Practice tip: Work on the descending bass line within the C chord (C, G/B, Am, G) during the verses to capture the song’s melancholic, flowing feel.

Ctap to play

Amtap to play

Ftap to play

Gtap to play

Dmtap to play

Key

C Major

Difficulty

Intermediate

Tuning

G-C-E-A

Chords

C · Am · F · G · Dm

Joni Mitchell’s poignant holiday song about longing and regret. Intermediate difficulty in the key of C.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a light fingerpicking pattern on the verses to match the original’s piano feel, and switch to the strum pattern for the choruses.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C

It’s coming on Christmas

G

They’re cutting down trees

Am

They’re putting up reindeer

Em F

And singing songs of joy and peace

C

Oh I wish I had a river

G

I could skate away on

Chorus

F

But it don’t snow here

C

It stays pretty green

G

I’m gonna make a lot of money

Am Em

Then I’m gonna quit this crazy scene

F

I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

F C

I wish I had a river so long

G Am

I would teach my feet to fly

F

Oh I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

Verse 2

C

I made my baby cry

G

He tried hard to help me

Am

You know, he put me at ease

Em

And he loved me so naughty

F

Made me weak in the knees

C

Oh I wish I had a river

G

I could skate away on

Chorus

F

But it don’t snow here

C

It stays pretty green

G

I’m gonna make a lot of money

Am Em

Then I’m gonna quit this crazy scene

F

I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

F C

I wish I had a river so long

G Am

I would teach my feet to fly

F

Oh I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

Verse 3

C

I’m so hard to handle

G

I’m selfish and I’m sad

Am

Now I’ve gone and lost the best baby

Em

That I ever had

F

Oh I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

Chorus

F

But it don’t snow here

C

It stays pretty green

G

I’m gonna make a lot of money

Am Em

Then I’m gonna quit this crazy scene

F

I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

F C

I wish I had a river so long

G Am

I would teach my feet to fly

F

Oh I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

Bridge

F

I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

Outro

C

You know, I wish I had a river

G

I could skate away on

Am Em

I wish I had a river so long

F C

I would teach my feet to fly

F

Oh I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

F

I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

Practice tip: Work on the descending bass line within the C chord (C, G/B, Am, G) during the verses to capture the song’s melancholic, flowing feel.

Ctap to play

Amtap to play

Ftap to play

Gtap to play

Dmtap to play

Key

C Major

Difficulty

Intermediate

Left Hand

Root notes

Chords

C · Am · F · G · Dm

Joni Mitchell’s poignant holiday song about longing and regret. Intermediate difficulty in the key of C.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a light fingerpicking pattern on the verses to match the original’s piano feel, and switch to the strum pattern for the choruses.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C

It’s coming on Christmas

G

They’re cutting down trees

Am

They’re putting up reindeer

Em F

And singing songs of joy and peace

C

Oh I wish I had a river

G

I could skate away on

Chorus

F

But it don’t snow here

C

It stays pretty green

G

I’m gonna make a lot of money

Am Em

Then I’m gonna quit this crazy scene

F

I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

F C

I wish I had a river so long

G Am

I would teach my feet to fly

F

Oh I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

Verse 2

C

I made my baby cry

G

He tried hard to help me

Am

You know, he put me at ease

Em

And he loved me so naughty

F

Made me weak in the knees

C

Oh I wish I had a river

G

I could skate away on

Chorus

F

But it don’t snow here

C

It stays pretty green

G

I’m gonna make a lot of money

Am Em

Then I’m gonna quit this crazy scene

F

I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

F C

I wish I had a river so long

G Am

I would teach my feet to fly

F

Oh I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

Verse 3

C

I’m so hard to handle

G

I’m selfish and I’m sad

Am

Now I’ve gone and lost the best baby

Em

That I ever had

F

Oh I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

Chorus

F

But it don’t snow here

C

It stays pretty green

G

I’m gonna make a lot of money

Am Em

Then I’m gonna quit this crazy scene

F

I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

F C

I wish I had a river so long

G Am

I would teach my feet to fly

F

Oh I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

Bridge

F

I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

Outro

C

You know, I wish I had a river

G

I could skate away on

Am Em

I wish I had a river so long

F C

I would teach my feet to fly

F

Oh I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

F

I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

Practice tip: Work on the descending bass line within the C chord (C, G/B, Am, G) during the verses to capture the song’s melancholic, flowing feel.

Ctap to play

Amtap to play

Ftap to play

Gtap to play

Dmtap to play

Key

C Major

Difficulty

Intermediate

Tuning

gDGBD (Open G)

Chords

C · Am · F · G · Dm

Joni Mitchell’s poignant holiday song about longing and regret. Intermediate difficulty in the key of C.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a light fingerpicking pattern on the verses to match the original’s piano feel, and switch to the strum pattern for the choruses.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C

It’s coming on Christmas

G

They’re cutting down trees

Am

They’re putting up reindeer

Em F

And singing songs of joy and peace

C

Oh I wish I had a river

G

I could skate away on

Chorus

F

But it don’t snow here

C

It stays pretty green

G

I’m gonna make a lot of money

Am Em

Then I’m gonna quit this crazy scene

F

I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

F C

I wish I had a river so long

G Am

I would teach my feet to fly

F

Oh I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

Verse 2

C

I made my baby cry

G

He tried hard to help me

Am

You know, he put me at ease

Em

And he loved me so naughty

F

Made me weak in the knees

C

Oh I wish I had a river

G

I could skate away on

Chorus

F

But it don’t snow here

C

It stays pretty green

G

I’m gonna make a lot of money

Am Em

Then I’m gonna quit this crazy scene

F

I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

F C

I wish I had a river so long

G Am

I would teach my feet to fly

F

Oh I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

Verse 3

C

I’m so hard to handle

G

I’m selfish and I’m sad

Am

Now I’ve gone and lost the best baby

Em

That I ever had

F

Oh I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

Chorus

F

But it don’t snow here

C

It stays pretty green

G

I’m gonna make a lot of money

Am Em

Then I’m gonna quit this crazy scene

F

I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

F C

I wish I had a river so long

G Am

I would teach my feet to fly

F

Oh I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

Bridge

F

I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

Outro

C

You know, I wish I had a river

G

I could skate away on

Am Em

I wish I had a river so long

F C

I would teach my feet to fly

F

Oh I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

F

I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

Practice tip: Work on the descending bass line within the C chord (C, G/B, Am, G) during the verses to capture the song’s melancholic, flowing feel.

Ctap to play

Amtap to play

Ftap to play

Gtap to play

Dmtap to play

Key

C Major

Difficulty

Intermediate

Tuning

G-D-A-E

Chords

C · Am · F · G · Dm

Joni Mitchell’s poignant holiday song about longing and regret. Intermediate difficulty in the key of C.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a light fingerpicking pattern on the verses to match the original’s piano feel, and switch to the strum pattern for the choruses.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C

It’s coming on Christmas

G

They’re cutting down trees

Am

They’re putting up reindeer

Em F

And singing songs of joy and peace

C

Oh I wish I had a river

G

I could skate away on

Chorus

F

But it don’t snow here

C

It stays pretty green

G

I’m gonna make a lot of money

Am Em

Then I’m gonna quit this crazy scene

F

I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

F C

I wish I had a river so long

G Am

I would teach my feet to fly

F

Oh I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

Verse 2

C

I made my baby cry

G

He tried hard to help me

Am

You know, he put me at ease

Em

And he loved me so naughty

F

Made me weak in the knees

C

Oh I wish I had a river

G

I could skate away on

Chorus

F

But it don’t snow here

C

It stays pretty green

G

I’m gonna make a lot of money

Am Em

Then I’m gonna quit this crazy scene

F

I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

F C

I wish I had a river so long

G Am

I would teach my feet to fly

F

Oh I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

Verse 3

C

I’m so hard to handle

G

I’m selfish and I’m sad

Am

Now I’ve gone and lost the best baby

Em

That I ever had

F

Oh I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

Chorus

F

But it don’t snow here

C

It stays pretty green

G

I’m gonna make a lot of money

Am Em

Then I’m gonna quit this crazy scene

F

I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

F C

I wish I had a river so long

G Am

I would teach my feet to fly

F

Oh I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

Bridge

F

I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

Outro

C

You know, I wish I had a river

G

I could skate away on

Am Em

I wish I had a river so long

F C

I would teach my feet to fly

F

Oh I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

F

I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

Practice tip: Work on the descending bass line within the C chord (C, G/B, Am, G) during the verses to capture the song’s melancholic, flowing feel.

Ctap to play

Amtap to play

Ftap to play

Gtap to play

Dmtap to play

Key

C Major

Difficulty

Intermediate

Harp Key

C Diatonic

Chords

C · Am · F · G · Dm

Joni Mitchell’s poignant holiday song about longing and regret. Intermediate difficulty in the key of C.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a light fingerpicking pattern on the verses to match the original’s piano feel, and switch to the strum pattern for the choruses.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C

It’s coming on Christmas

G

They’re cutting down trees

Am

They’re putting up reindeer

Em F

And singing songs of joy and peace

C

Oh I wish I had a river

G

I could skate away on

Chorus

F

But it don’t snow here

C

It stays pretty green

G

I’m gonna make a lot of money

Am Em

Then I’m gonna quit this crazy scene

F

I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

F C

I wish I had a river so long

G Am

I would teach my feet to fly

F

Oh I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

Verse 2

C

I made my baby cry

G

He tried hard to help me

Am

You know, he put me at ease

Em

And he loved me so naughty

F

Made me weak in the knees

C

Oh I wish I had a river

G

I could skate away on

Chorus

F

But it don’t snow here

C

It stays pretty green

G

I’m gonna make a lot of money

Am Em

Then I’m gonna quit this crazy scene

F

I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

F C

I wish I had a river so long

G Am

I would teach my feet to fly

F

Oh I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

Verse 3

C

I’m so hard to handle

G

I’m selfish and I’m sad

Am

Now I’ve gone and lost the best baby

Em

That I ever had

F

Oh I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

Chorus

F

But it don’t snow here

C

It stays pretty green

G

I’m gonna make a lot of money

Am Em

Then I’m gonna quit this crazy scene

F

I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

F C

I wish I had a river so long

G Am

I would teach my feet to fly

F

Oh I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

Bridge

F

I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

Outro

C

You know, I wish I had a river

G

I could skate away on

Am Em

I wish I had a river so long

F C

I would teach my feet to fly

F

Oh I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

F

I wish I had a river

C

I could skate away on

Practice tip: Work on the descending bass line within the C chord (C, G/B, Am, G) during the verses to capture the song’s melancholic, flowing feel.