RED RIVER VALLEY
Time signature: 4/4
Tempo: wide range, average ~120 bpm |
jOHN hARTFORD
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Guitar Notation - Key of Cmajor
Beats per bar = 4
Beat symbol = "dot" ( . ) or equivalent. |
MELODY LINES:
Higher register: Strings 4 to 6 - Frets 0 to 3 Lower register: Strings 1 to 3 - Frets 0 to 3 |
Without CAPO,
tune sounds in key of C |
CAPO fret location for sounding in other keys:
1=Db 2=D 3=Eb 4=E 5=F 6=Gb 7=highG |
Verse 1 (of several)
C G7
.4-0 .5-1 | :6-0 .6-0 .6-0 | :6-0 .5-3 .6-0 | .5-3 .:5-1~ | ~:
.1-3 .2-3 | :3-2 .3-2 .3-2 | :3-2 .3-0 .3-2 | .3-0 .:2-3~ | ~:
From this val - ley they say you are go - ing ____
C G7
.4-0 .5-1 | :6-0 .5-1 .6-0 | :6-3 .6-1 .6-0 | ::5-3~ | ~:
.1-3 .2-3 | :3-2 .2-3 .3-2 | :4-0 .3-3 .3-2 | ::3-0~ | ~:
We will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile____
C F
.6-3 .6-1 | :6-0 .6-0 .5-3 | :5-1 .5-3 .6-0 | .6-3 .:6-1~ | ~:
.4-0 .3-3 | :3-2 .3-2 .3-0 | :2-3 .3-0 .3-2 | .4-0 .:3-3~ | ~:
For they say you are tak - ing the sun - shine____
C G7 C
.4-2 .4-2 | :4-0 .5-0 .5-1 | :5-3 .6-0 .5-3 | ::5-1~ | ~:
.2-0 .2-0 | :1-3 .2-2 .2-3 | :3-0 .3-2 .3-0 | ::2-3~ | ~:
That has bright-ened our path-ways a - while____
Chorus and remaining verses have the same guitar notation as given above.
Guitar Notation - Key of Gmajor
Beats per bar = 4 Beat symbol = "dot" ( . ) or equivalent. Without CAPO, tune sounds in key of G |
MELODY LINES:
Middle register: Strings 3 to 5 - Frets 0 to 4 No lower register - Lowest note not available. CAPO fret location for sounding in other keys: 1=Ab 2=A 3=Bb 4=B 5=highC 7= highD |
Verse 1 (of several) G \ \ \ D7 \ \ \ G \
G D7 G
.3-0 .4-0 | :5-0 .5-0 .5-0 | :5-0 .4-2 .5-0 | .4-2 .:4(0)~ | ~:
From this val - ley they say you are go - ing ____,
D7
.3-0 .4-0 | :5-0 .4-0 .5-0 | :5-3 .5-1 .5-0 | ::4(2)~ | ~:
We will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile____
G C
.5-3 .5-1 | :5-0 .5-0 .4-2 | :4-0 .4-2 .5-0 | .5-3 .:5(1)~ | ~:
For they say you are tak - ing the sun – shine___
G D7 G
.3-2 .3-2 | :3-0 .3-4 .4-0 | :4-2 .5-0 .4-2 | ::4(0)~ | ~:
That has bright-ened our path-ways a - while____ /
Chorus and remaining verses have the same notation as given above.
G D7 G
.3-0 .4-0 | :5-0 .5-0 .5-0 | :5-0 .4-2 .5-0 | .4-2 .:4(0)~ | ~:
From this val - ley they say you are go - ing ____,
D7
.3-0 .4-0 | :5-0 .4-0 .5-0 | :5-3 .5-1 .5-0 | ::4(2)~ | ~:
We will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile____
G C
.5-3 .5-1 | :5-0 .5-0 .4-2 | :4-0 .4-2 .5-0 | .5-3 .:5(1)~ | ~:
For they say you are tak - ing the sun – shine___
G D7 G
.3-2 .3-2 | :3-0 .3-4 .4-0 | :4-2 .5-0 .4-2 | ::4(0)~ | ~:
That has bright-ened our path-ways a - while____ /
Chorus and remaining verses have the same notation as given above.
Embedded youTube VIDEOS
Number of recordings in various keys: Ab=1 B=1 C=2 C,Db=1
(Play in C or G; use CAPO for others.) D=3 Eb,E=1 E=1 F=2 G=2 TOTAL = 14
(Play in C or G; use CAPO for others.) D=3 Eb,E=1 E=1 F=2 G=2 TOTAL = 14
Key: D
Tempo: ~170 bpm Singer: Mike ? Posted by: ichingiching |
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Key: F from time 0 to 3:00
G from 3:00 to end Tempo: ~105 bpm Group: Marty Robbins Posted by: Tarquin45 Two separate recordings - the first in key of F and the second in the key of G. |
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Key: Eb from time 0 to 1:57
E from 1:58 to end Tempo: ~110 bpm Group: Foster and Allen Posted by: petermfh59 |
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Key: F
Tempo: ~110 bpm Singer: Eddy Arnold Posted by: jym1644 |
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Key: C from time 0 to 1:53
Db from 1:54to 3:00 (end) Tempo: ~110 bpm Singer: Roger Whittaker Posted by: TheBestMusic112's channel |
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Key: D
Tempo: ~90 bpm Singer: Jo Stafford Group: Paul Weston & Orchestra, and the Norman Luboff Choir Posted by: twerpy7 |
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Key: E
Tempo: ~85 bpm. Singer: George Strait Posted by: luella812 |
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Key: D
Singer: Lynn Anderson Posted by: Cowboy Hat Radio |
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Key: Ab
Tempo: ~125 bpm Singer: Jimmy Rodgers Posted by: Leon Spicer |
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Key: C
Tempo: ~85 bpm Singer: Challace Earls Posted by: Challace Earls |
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Key: B
Singer: Susie Bogguss Posted by: kVarious Artists - Topic |
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Key: C
Tempo: ~125 bpm Group: Quebe Sisters Lead singer: Warren Buffett Posted by: The Quebe Sisters Favorite youTube comment: "Mr. Buffett missed his calling. Think of all the money he could have made singing." (Warren Buffett, the investor, is already one of the wealthiest people in the world.) |
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Key: G
Group: Smothers Brothers (Comedy Hour) Posted by: The Smothers Brothers Boy ... this brought back memories! They used Red River Valley as the book-ends for this skit. |
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Background Materials, Information & Links
Lyrics:
Most of the videos above contain only a couple of verses with chorus. Also, there are other versions of the lyrics in some of the videos. |
From this valley they say you are going,
We will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile, For they say you are taking the sunshine That has brightened our pathways a while. Chorus (same tune as verse): Come and sit by my side if you love me; Do not hasten to bid me adieu, But remember the Red River Valley, And the girl that has loved you so true. I've been thinking a long time, my darling, Of the sweet words you never would say, Now, alas, must my fond hopes all vanish? For they say you are going away. Won't you think of the valley you're leaving, Oh, how lonely and sad it will be, Just think of the fond heart you're breaking, And the grief you are causing to me. From this valley they say you are going, When you go, may your darling go too? Would you leave her behind unprotected, When she loves no one other than you. As you go to your home by the ocean, May you never forget those sweet hours, That we spent in the Red River Valley, And the love we exchanged 'mid the flowers. I have promised you, darling, that never Will a word from my lips cause you pain, And my life, it will be yours forever, If you only will love me again. They will bury me where you have wandered, Near the hills where the daffodils grow, When you're gone from the Red River valley, For I can't live without you I know. |
Background Link:
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There are many "Red" river's in North America. My favorite flows out of the Northern United States into and through Manitoba, including Winnipeg. During periods of flooding (which happens all too frequently) it covers wide areas of land, and the locals refer to it as the "Red Sea".
Click HERE for additional info about this song. |