River Man Guitar Tab

Five Leaves Left Tabs:

River Man

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SONG NAME - Band Name
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Tabbed by:Dr smith
Email:alex_carson@hotmail.com
Tuning:EADGBe (capo 3rd)
This is somewhat similiar to the other version but I hope this ones a bit more
comprehensive. And this one covers the "Oh, how they come and go" bit whereas
the other one doesn't. This is quite a tough song to play rythmically speaking,
its in 5/4 time and starts on an anacrusis. One way I recommend on learning this
song properly is to sing along to it, this forces you to keep time better.
Intro: Cadd9/G  (Aadd9/E (Relative to capo remember))
e|----------------------0-----|
B|----2-----2-----------2-----|
G|----4-----4-----------4-----|X4
D|----2-----2--2-----------2--|
A|----0-----0-----------0-----|
E|-0-----0--------0--0--------|
Verse:  Cm9/G (Am9/E)
e|----------------------------|------------------------------|
B|----1-----1----------1------|-----1------1-----------1-----|
G|----4-----4----------4------|-----4------4-----------4-----|
D|----2-----2--2-------2--2---|-----2------2--2--------2--2--|
A|----0-----0----------0------|-----0------0-----------0-----|
E|-0-----0-------0--0---------|--0------0--------0--0--------|
Bbmadd11 (Gmadd11)
e|-----------------------|-----------------------------|
B|-----3-----3--------3--|-----3-----3-----------------|
G|-----3-----3--------3--|-----3-----3-----------3-----|
D|-----0--------0-----0--|-----0--------0--------5-----|
A|-----------3-----------|-----------3-----------5-----|
E|--3-----3--------3-----|--3-----3--------3--0-----0--|
Ab (F)
e|-----------------------------|
B|-----1-----1-----------1-----|
G|-----2-----2-----------2-----|
D|-----3-----3--3--------3--3--|
A|-----3-----3-----------3-----|
E|--1-----1--------1--1--------|
Cadd9/G (Add9/E)
e|-----------------------------|-----------------------0-----|
B|-----1-----1-----------1-----|-----2-----2-----------2-----|
G|-----2-----2-----------2-----|-----4-----4-----------4-----|
D|-----3-----3--3--------3-----|-----2-----2--2-----------2--|
A|-----3-----3-----------3--0--|-----0-----0-----------0-----|
E|--1-----1--------1--1--------|--0-----0--------0--0--------|
e|-----------------------0-----|
B|-----2-----2-----------2-----|
G|-----4-----4-----------4-----|
D|-----2-----2--2-----------2--|
A|-----0-----0-----------0-----|
E|--0-----0--------0--0--------|
Intro: Cadd9/G
Verse 1: Cm9/G                  Bbm add11
Betty camd by on her way
Ab
Said she had a word to say
Cadd9/G
about things today        and fallen leaves
Cm9/G                         Bbm add11
Said she hadn't heard the news
Ab
Hadn't had the time to choose
Cadd9/G
A way to lose,       but she believes.
Cm9/G                     Bb add11
Verse 2: Going to see the river man
Ab
Going to tell him all I can
Cadd9/G
About the plan       for lilac time
Cm9/G                      Bb add11
If he tells me all he knows
Ab
About the way his river flows
(C7b5)
|002040|
And all night shows      in the summertime
Instrumental section: Ab  Cadd9/G  Ab  Cadd9/G
Repeat verse 1 for 3 and verse 2 for 4.
Verse 3: Betty said she prayed today
For the sky to blow away
Or maybe stay, she wasn't sure
For when she thought of summer rain
Calling for her mind again
She lost the pain and stayed for more.
Verse 4: Going to see the river man
Going to tell him all I can
About the ban, on flying free
If he tells me all he knows
About the way his river flows
I don't suppose it's meant for me.
(C13/G)
Outro:  |004020|
Oh, how they come and go       (C7b5/G)
Cm9/G                 Cadd9/G  |002040|
Oh, how they come and go        (Fine)
| /  slide up
| \  slide down
| h  hammer-on
| p  pull-off
| ~  vibrato
| +  harmonic
| x  Mute note
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Source: GuitarMasta.net
http://www.guitarmasta.net/n/nick_drake/.html

Tab Discussion, Comments, and Critiques


No Picture Corey Average	#1 by Corey La Plante at Sep 28, 2007 at 7:54 AM EST
	i believe nick is searching for something of more meaning in this song. the river man is perhaps someone who understands more about life. Nick is saying he doesn't believe this higher level of understanding life is for him, he feels that he doesn't deserve it or it's just never going to happen. Any thoughts or comments?

No Picture The Guitar Guy Lead Player	#2 by The Guitar Guy at Sep 28, 2007 at 10:40 AM EST
	This song reminds me of the film Easy Rider. Especially the last shot with the river extending to the horizon and Ballad of Easy Rider being played. The part about the ban on feeling free seems to be related to the theme of the movie too. What do you think?

No Picture Will Wanna Be	#3 by Will Hay at Sep 30, 2007 at 11:49 AM EST
	Nick Drake tunes are something akin to a delicate flower. Such rare and ethereal melodic grace is hard to come by these days. It's a pity he only recorded three full albums during his short life. Every time I listen to River Man I'm reminded of the approach of autumn. Full of mysterious melancholy, this is one of Drake's best in my opinion. Who is this Betty speaking of fallen leaves? A spectral haunting of beguiling beauty? A wayfaring soul, lost to the world? What of "the plan for lilac time"? What do you think the river man has to say? That's the beauty of it I suppose; it can be many different things to many people..."Oh, how they come and go..." PS: Guffle's Schubert connection makes sense; relating well to the ripening Eros, and the autumnal feel of the song. In the end though, as Leroyskagnetti points out, it seems that the overpowering sense of Thanatos wins out.

No Picture Indy Lead Player	#4 by Indy Windrose at Oct 3, 2007 at 3:46 PM EST
	I can't believe there are only 4 comments on this wonderful song. It's up there with Nick Drake's "Pink Moon" and "Things Behind the Sun." BEAUTIFUL song!!!

No Picture kyle Badass	#5 by kyle .,., at Oct 3, 2007 at 5:53 PM EST
	One of the choice picks from an underrated genius. He barely sold 3,000 copies of his albums in his lifetime, and after his death, he's now sold in excess of 500,000. It's just a pity he didn't live to see it. Fantastic song.

No Picture claireus Wanna Be	#6 by claireus s at Oct 8, 2007 at 10:43 AM EST
	gorgeous song, and rossx another person you might like is Elliott Smith, if you're not already into him. anyway his music is like Nick's only more eerie and some are a little more pissy.both amazing musicians, why do all the good ones commit suicide?

No Picture Rene Average	#7 by Rene Salojärvi at Oct 13, 2007 at 6:12 AM EST
	i believe nick is searching for something of more meaning in this song. the river man is perhaps someone who understands more about life. Nick is saying he doesn't believe this higher level of understanding life is for him, he feels that he doesn't deserve it or it's just never going to happen. Any thoughts or comments?

No Picture hey u by the th Average	#8 by hey u by the that thing. SHUTUP!! at Oct 14, 2007 at 4:21 PM EST
	This song is based on the book. :) Or was it a poem. O_o

No Picture Brandon Average	#9 by Brandon Weathers at Oct 15, 2007 at 10:25 PM EST
	There's such a dark, mlancholic, almost creepy feel to his music and this song is the perfect example of it. It is hauntingly beautiful, it brings goosebumps to my arms. I think it's about death. Knowing your going to die soon.

No Picture Scott Average	#10 by Scott Muir at Oct 16, 2007 at 10:25 PM EST
	to me personally this song is about an unstable girl who has some type of relationship with the narrator who needs help knowing what to do. the river man i think of as almost prophet-like because he'd have to be a traveler of somesort and it would definately symbolyze a higher spiritual knowledge guru.

No Picture Jamie Wanna Be	#11 by Jamie Smith at Oct 17, 2007 at 1:03 AM EST
	good work guffle

No Picture James Wanna Be	#12 by James Makowiecki at Oct 18, 2007 at 10:32 AM EST
	ive listened tot his song 5 times in a row now and can't stop.. it just doesn't get old. i've always been into orchestrated music and maybe that's why.. just putting together two music types that i really love. a musician that has respect for instruments like violins and celli doesn't come around that often. yea but i have no idea what this song is about.. it makes me feel sad.. kinda puts a lump in my throat you know? i'm really in love with it though.