Gentle on my mind

RED RIVER VALLEY

Time signature: 4/4
Tempo: wide range, average ~120 bpm

jOHN hARTFORD

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.

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

Key: D

Tempo: ~170 bpm

Singer: Mike ?

Posted by: ichingiching

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.

Key: Eb from time 0 to 1:57
E from 1:58 to end

Tempo: ~110 bpm

Group: Foster and Allen

Posted by: petermfh59

Key: F

Tempo: ~110 bpm

Singer: Eddy Arnold

Posted by: jym1644

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

Key: D

Tempo: ~90 bpm

Singer: Jo Stafford

Group: Paul Weston & Orchestra, and the
Norman Luboff Choir

Posted by: twerpy7

Key: E

Tempo: ~85 bpm.

Singer: George Strait

Posted by: luella812

Key: D

Singer: Lynn Anderson

Posted by: Cowboy Hat Radio

Key: Ab

Tempo: ~125 bpm

Singer: Jimmy Rodgers

Posted by: Leon Spicer

Key: C

Tempo: ~85 bpm

Singer: Challace Earls

Posted by: Challace Earls

Key: B

Singer: Susie Bogguss

Posted by: kVarious Artists - Topic

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.)

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.

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:

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.