F          C        G         Am
Its been rainy and windy for seven days straight
Ive been going to bed early and getting up late
I look out my window and its one shade of gray
My wife and my kids dont have much to say
A man out of work only gets in the way

Oh the river is rising now one inch an hour
And tonight well be lucky if we still have power
But Ive got a flashlight, an oil lamp and Im ready to go
And a fresh set of batteries for my sons radio
If the dam really breaks, least well know where to go

Am         C    Am        C
River take me, river take me
Am         C   C  F     C     G
River take me far from trouble
Am         C    Am          C
River take me, river take me
Am         C   C  F     C     G
River take me far from trouble

  F       C              G         Am
If I had a boat you know what Id do?
Id float me and my family down to Baton Rouge
I wouldnt work in no factory Id live off the land
And live within means of my own two hands
Dance Saturday nights to a Zydeco band

Am         C    Am        C
River take me, river take me
Am         C   C  F     C     G
River take me far from trouble
Am         C    Am          C
River take me, river take me
Am         C   C  F     C     G
River take me far from trouble

        F     C          G        Am
Oh the river flows and a young man dreams
And the river can drown you 
Or it can wash you clean
It can take you away to some other place
It can power your cities, carry your waste
And give all that you drink a peculiar taste


Oh, dont look to me, Ive done my time
You see Ive had too many dreams for this one heart of mine
And Ive stood on the bridge with the river below
Feeling all of the sadness that a proud man could hold
Oh the river is full but theres no way to go