104 BPM · Key of D · Blues waltz in 3/4 Chords: D | D | D | D7 | G | G | D | B7 | Em | A7 | D | A7 (Each bar gets three beats. The B7 → Em → A7 turnaround is a sweeter version of the standard blues ending. Stop-time in the turn verse means one hit on beat 1 of each bar.) Instrument plan: Kick-off on Irish Bouzouki (the river-town man's instrument) · Break 1 on Irish Bouzouk · Break 2 trades Cittern and Hammered Dulcimer· Tag answered by Cittern and Irish Bouzouki together in harmony, the first time two lead instruments play as one Arrangement note: The Irish Bouzouki plays soft forward rolls on beats 2 and 3. The bass plays a "boom-chick-chick" waltz pattern. Keep the bends gentle; the blue notes should sound like memory, not pain. Callbacks: the boots and Darlene's door, the Bible and the ring, and the muddy creek (Song 1); the kettle (Song 2); the fiddle (Songs 2 and 3) [Intro – dobro kick-off, 4 bars] [Verse 1] There's a little river town where the willows touch the ground, There's a quiet river town, Lord, where the willow branches touch the ground, And a man there plays the dobro, and I followed that sweet sound. [Verse 2] He don't ask me where I'm from, and he don't ask me where I've been, He don't ask me where I came from, never asks me where I've been, Just pours a cup of coffee, and he lets the evening in. [Chorus] The creek runs to the river, and the river finds the sea, The little creek runs to the river, and that river finds the sea, And a heart that's learned its lonesome, Lord, can still find company. [Instrumental Break – Irish Bouzouki, 12 bars] [Verse 3] I told him 'bout the boots I found at Darlene Miller's door, Told him all about the boots I found by Darlene Miller's door, He said, "I've stood in muddy water, and I've walked that muddy shore." [Verse 4] Now the kettle's singing on the stove, it's singing out for two, That old kettle's singing on the stove, Lord, it's singing out for two, And I'm learning slow as springtime what a trusting heart can do. [Chorus – trio harmony, warm and open] The creek runs to the river, and the river finds the sea, The little creek runs to the river, and that river finds the sea, And a heart that's learned its lonesome, Lord, can still find company. [Instrumental Break – cittern 3 bars, Hammered Dulcimer 3 bars] [Verse 5 – stop-time on first line] I won't promise on a Bible, and I won't swear on a ring, I won't promise on Mama's Bible, I won't swear it on a ring, But I'll waltz you by the river, and I'll let my fiddle sing. [Outro – tag] And I'll let my fiddle sing, And I'll let... my fiddle sing. [fiddle and dobro answer together]
