Strange Rivers

Written by John Stewart

This one is dedicated to Lilyliner.

‘Strange Rivers’ is a powerful, mysterious and potent song. It flows from us to you, Lily.

‘Strange Rivers’ is from “Punch the Big Guy”, published 1987 by Line Records. This is one of John´s very best albums. The song can (and should) also be found on the live albums “Deep in the Neon”, Homecoming Records, 1991, and on the double CD “Front Row Music – Before the War”, Neon Dreams, 2001.

It should be noted that Tim Riley, the webmaster of the John Stewart internet fan site “Bloodlines”, wisely chose ‘strangerivers’ as part of the address of said group.

Art Faller sent his nearly perfect version to Charlie and to me, we added some bass notes and some beautifully sung OH-OH-OH´s, and now the Strange Rivers can run through your guitars and banjos. You´ll be able to Feel the River then, maybe…

Charlie writes: "There's a neat little high notes run on the “Deep in the Neon” version: d-pull off to b-g-a, that precedes the bass run. Change to (D) at the a-note."

(Bass run:B-A-G-E, to Em) (D/F#) (B-A-G-E, Em) (D/F#)

(B-A-G-E, Em) (D/F#) (B-A-G-E, Em) (D/F#)

And there are (G)voices in the mirror,(Em)

And there are (C)faces (G/B)at the (D/F#)door,

And they (G)open on the (Em)rivers

We've (C)never (G/B)seen be(D/F#)fore.

And are there (G)choices for the sparrow,(Em)

Or (C)does he (G/B)only (D/F#)fly

(G)High above the (Em)rivers,

(Am)Pulling you and (D)I?

There are (C)strange rivers,(G)

The(C)rivers that you (G/B)cannot (D/F#)see,

And there are (C)strange rivers(G)

Who (C)know our (G/B)desti(D/F#)ny.

And there are (C)strange rivers,(G)

And we're (C)sai(G)lors,(D/F#)

You and (Em)me. (D/F#) (B-A-G-E, Em) (D/F#)

(G)And he could have been a builder,(Em)

He (C)could have (G/B)been the (D/F#)one

To (G)turn his dreams to (Em)steel

Ca(C)thedrals (G/B)in the (D/F#)sun.

(G)And he could have been a builder,(Em)

But (C)then he (G/B)bought the (D/F#)gun,

And there are (G)forces in that (Em)river

That (Am)keep him on the (D)run.

There are (C)strange rivers,(G)

(C)Rivers that you (G/B)cannot (D/F#)see,

And there are (C)strange rivers(G)

Who (C)know our (G/B)desti(D/F#)ny.

And there are (C)strange rivers, yeah, (G)

And we're (C)sai(G)lors,(D/F#)

You and (Em)me. (D/F#) (B-A-G-E, Em) (D/F#)

(B-A-G-E, Em) (D/F#) (B-A-G-E, Em) (D/F#)

Did you (G)ever turn the corner(Em)

And you (C)wondered (G/B)why you (D/F#)did,

'Cause you (G)haven't been that (Em)way, now,

Since (C)you were (G/B)just a (D/F#)kid?

And (G)nothing really happened,(Em)

But (C)then you've (G/B)got to (D/F#)say

That you (G)wonder what would (Em)happen,

Had you (Am)gone the other (D)way…

And there are (C)strange rivers,(G)

(C)Rivers that you (G/B)cannot (D/F#)see,

And there are (C)strange rivers(G)

Who (C)know our (G/B)desti(D/F#)ny.

And there are (C)strange rivers, yeah,(G)

And we're (C)sai(G)lors,(D/F#)

You and (Em)me.(Accentuate high notes, Em/e, Em7/d, Em/b) (D/F#)

(B-A-G-E, Em) (D/F#)

For there are (Em)strange rivers,(Em/e, Em7,d, Em/b, D/d)

There are (Em)strange rivers,(Em/e, Em7/d, Em/b, D/d)

And there are (Em)strange rivers,(Em/e, Em7/d)

Mm, (Em/b)oh, (D)oh, (C)oh, (D)oh, oh, (Em)oh,

(D)And there are (Em)strange rivers,(Em/e, Em7/d)

And (Em/b)oh, (D)oh, (C)oh, (D)oh, oh, (Em)oh, oh,

(D)For there are (Em)strange rivers,(Em/e, Em7/d)

Mm, (Em/b)oh, (D)oh, (C)oh, (D)oh, oh, (Em)oh,

(D)And there are (Em)strange rivers,(Em/e, Em7/d, Em/b, D/d)

There are (Em)strange rivers…(hammer on D-note on B-string,Em7/d-d-d)

(B-A-G-E, Em)O-O-OH, the (D/F#)river,

OH-OH-(B-A-G-E, Em)OH, the (D/F#)river,

OH-OH-(B-A-G-E, Em)OH, yeah, the (D/F#)river,

OH-OH-(B-A-G-E, Em)OH, feel the (D/F#)river,

OH-Oh-(B-A-G-E, Em)OH, see the (D/F#)river,

OH-OH-(B-A-G-E, Em)OH, be the (D/F#)river

OH-OH-(B-A-G-E, Em)OH, oh, the (D/F#)river,

OH-OH-(B-A-G-E, Em)OH… (D/F#) (B-A-G-E, Em) (D/F#)

(B-A-G-E, Em) (D/F#) (B-A-G-E, Em) (D/F#) (Em)

Art Faller, Charlie Woodward & janhauenstein@gmx.de

(The trio)

1/2003