River chords by Eminem (Ver. 2)

• Capo on 4th

(Scroll to bottom for a No Capo version that matches the original recording)

         Chorus                     Verse

  Em  G C  D   Em  G C  D       Em  G C  D   Em  G C A5 D
e|------------------|-------------------|   e|------------------|--------------------|
B|------------------|-------------------|   B|------------------|--------------------|
G|------------------|-------------------|   G|---------------2--|--------------2--2--|
D|-------0--2-------|-------0--2----4\--|   D|--2----0--2----0--|--2----0--2---2--0--|
A|--2----2--3----5\-|--2----2--3----5\--|   A|--2----2--3----0--|--2----2--3---0--x--|
E|--0----3--3----5\-|--0----3--3--------|   E|--0----3--3-------|--0----3--3------2--|

Notes: - C is actually C/G, shown as C for simplicity
    - D is actually D/A and D/F# during verse as defined above

Capo 4th fret


Intro Chorus:
      Em         G   C
I've been a liar, been a thief, been a lover, been a cheat
  D  Em         G    C
All my sins need holy water, feel it washin' over me
   D     Em             G     C
Well little one, I don't want to admit to something
              D  Em         G       C
If all it's gonna cause is pain,  truth in my lies right now are falling like the rain
      D
So let the river run


Verse 1:
Em                       G
  He's coming home with his neck scratched to catch flack
C                 D
  Sweat jackets and dress slacks, mismatch
Em                    G
On his breast jacket is a sex addict and she just wants to
C         A5    D
Exact revenge and get back

     Em                  G
It's a chess match, she's on his back like a jetpack
   C                    D
She's kept track of all his internet chats and guess who just
Em                  G
Happens to be moving on to the next actually
   C               A5      D
Just shit on my last chick and she has what my ex lacks

Em             G
 'Cause she loves danger, psychopath
C                       D
  And you don't fuck with no man's girl, even I know that
Em                     G
  But she's devised some plan to stab him in the back
C              A5         D
Knife in hand, says the relationship's hanging by a strand

Em                 G
  So she's been on the web lately
   C                 D
Says maybe she'll be my Gwen Stacy, to spite her man
Em               G
  And I know she's using me to try to play him
C
I don't care, "hi Suzanne", but I shoulda' said "bye Suzanne"

After the first night, but tonight I am


Chorus 1:
      Em         G   C
I've been a liar, been a thief, been a lover, been a cheat
  D  Em         G    C      A5
All my sins need holy water, feel it washin' over me
        Em             G     C
Well little one, I don't want to admit to something
              D  Em         G    C
If all it's gonna cause is pain,  truth in my lies now are falling like the rain
A5
  So let the river run


Verse 2:
Em                       G
One night stand turned into two night stayin', it was cold
  C                    D
And some might scram, y'all we hug tight and
     Em                  G
He found out, now she feels deserted and used
      C           A5        D
'Cause he left, so what, he did it first to her too

  Em                           G
Now how am I supposed to tell this girl that we're through?
   C                       D
It's hard to find the words, I'm aloof, nervous and suited
     Em
When it's too hurt but what you deserve is the truth
    G      C               A5      D
Don't take it personal, I just can't say this in person to you

Em                   G      C
  So I revert to the studio like Hole In The Wall diners
                   D
Don't have to be reserved in a booth
 Em                        G
I just feel like the person who I'm turnin' into's
   C                 A5        D
Irreversible, I prayed on you like it's church at the pew

        Em
And now that I got you I don't want you
        G        C
Took advantage of my thirst to pursue
                 D
Why do I do this dirt that I do?
      Em                   G
Get off my soapbox and preach, my sermon in speech
     C
Detergent and bleach is burned in the womb

'Cause now with her in the womb

We can't bring her in this world, shoulda knew

To use protection 'fore I bit into your forbidden fruit


Chorus 2:
          Em         G   C
I've been (fuck!) a liar, been a thief, been a lover, been a cheat
  D  Em         G    C      A5
All my sins need holy water, feel it washin' over me
        Em             G     C
Well little one, I don't want to admit to something
              D  Em         G    C
If all it's gonna cause is pain,  truth in my lies now are falling like the rain
A5
  So let the river run


Bridge:
Em         G         C
My name's (oh-oh), my name's (oh-oh) Denver (oh-oh), never run
   Em        G        C
Just call me (oh-oh), call me (oh-oh) River (oh-oh)
N.C.
We'll let the river run


Verse 3:
C
  Always the bride's maid, never the bride, hey
D
  Fuck can I say, if life was a highway
C
  The sequel’s an enclave, I’ll be swerving in five lanes

C            D
  Speeds at a high rate like I'm sliding on ice maybe
C
  That's why I'm made, that came at you sideways
D
  I can't keep my lies straight

     C
What I made you terminate my baby
       D
This love triangle left us in a wreck tangled
        C
What else can I say, it was fun for a while, bet I really woulda loved your smile

Didn't really wanna abort but fuck it, what's one more lie to tell an unborn child?


Chorus 3:
      Em         G   C
I've been a liar, been a thief, been a lover, been a cheat
  D  Em         G    C
All my sins need holy water, feel it washin' over me
   D     Em                   G     C
Well little one, (I’m sorry) I don't want to admit to something (I fucked up)
              D  Em           G    C
If all it's gonna cause is pain,  the truth in my lies now are falling like the rain
      D
So let the river run (river run, river run, river run)


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           No capo version (matches original recording)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         Chorus                     Verse

  G#m  B E  F#  G#m  B E  F#      G#m  B E  F#  G#m  B E C#5 F#
e|------------------|-------------------|   e|------------------|--------------------|
B|------------------|-------------------|   B|------------------|--------------------|
G|------------------|-------------------|   G|-------4----------|-------4------6-----|
D|-------4--6-------|-------4--6----8\--|   D|--6----4--2----4--|--6----4--2---6--4--|
A|--6----6--7----9\-|--6----6--7----9\--|   A|--6----2--2----4--|--6----2--2---4--4--|
E|--4----7--0----9\-|--4----7--0--------|   E|--4-------0----2--|--4-------0------2--|

Note: last F# during Intro Chorus is played as a power chord (244xxx)


Intro Chorus:
      G#m         B   E
I've been a liar, been a thief, been a lover, been a cheat
  F#  G#m         B    E
All my sins need holy water, feel it washin' over me
   F#    G#m            B     E
Well little one, I don't want to admit to something
              F#  G#m         B       E
If all it's gonna cause is pain,  truth in my lies right now are falling like the rain
      F#
So let the river run


Verse 1:
G#m                      B
  He's coming home with his neck scratched to catch flack
E                 F#
  Sweat jackets and dress slacks, mismatch
G#m                   B
On his breast jacket is a sex addict and she just wants to
E         C#5   F#
Exact revenge and get back

     G#m                 B
It's a chess match, she's on his back like a jetpack
   E                    F#
She's kept track of all his internet chats and guess who just
G#m                  B
Happens to be moving on to the next actually
   E               C#5     F#
Just shit on my last chick and she has what my ex lacks

G#m            B
 'Cause she loves danger, psychopath
E                       F#
  And you don't fuck with no man's girl, even I know that
G#m                    B
  But she's devised some plan to stab him in the back
E              C#5        F#
Knife in hand, says the relationship's hanging by a strand

G#m                B
  So she's been on the web lately
   E                 F#
Says maybe she'll be my Gwen Stacy, to spite her man
G#m               B
  And I know she's using me to try to play him
E
I don't care, "hi Suzanne", but I shoulda' said "bye Suzanne"

After the first night, but tonight I am


Chorus 1:
      G#m         B   E
I've been a liar, been a thief, been a lover, been a cheat
  F#  G#m         B    E      C#5
All my sins need holy water, feel it washin' over me
        G#m            B     E
Well little one, I don't want to admit to something
              F#  G#m        B    E
If all it's gonna cause is pain,  truth in my lies now are falling like the rain
C#5
  So let the river run


Verse 2:
G#m                      B
One night stand turned into two night stayin', it was cold
  E                    F#
And some might scram, y'all we hug tight and
     G#m                 B
He found out, now she feels deserted and used
      E           C#5       F#
'Cause he left, so what, he did it first to her too

  G#m                           B
Now how am I supposed to tell this girl that we're through?
   E                       F#
It's hard to find the words, I'm aloof, nervous and suited
     G#m
When it's too hurt but what you deserve is the truth
    B      E               C#5      F#
Don't take it personal, I just can't say this in person to you

G#m                  B      E
  So I revert to the studio like Hole In The Wall diners
                   F#
Don't have to be reserved in a booth
 G#m                       B
I just feel like the person who I'm turnin' into's
   E                 C#5        F#
Irreversible, I prayed on you like it's church at the pew

        G#m
And now that I got you I don't want you
        B        E
Took advantage of my thirst to pursue
                 F#
Why do I do this dirt that I do?
      G#m                   B
Get off my soapbox and preach, my sermon in speech
     E
Detergent and bleach is burned in the womb

'Cause now with her in the womb

We can't bring her in this world, shoulda knew

To use protection 'fore I bit into your forbidden fruit


Chorus 2:
          G#m         B   E
I've been (fuck!) a liar, been a thief, been a lover, been a cheat
  F#  G#m         B    E      C#5
All my sins need holy water, feel it washin' over me
        G#m            B     E
Well little one, I don't want to admit to something
              F#  G#m        B    E
If all it's gonna cause is pain,  truth in my lies now are falling like the rain
C#5
  So let the river run


Bridge:
G#m        B         E
My name's (oh-oh), my name's (oh-oh) Denver (oh-oh), never run
   G#m       B        E
Just call me (oh-oh), call me (oh-oh) River (oh-oh)
N.C.
We'll let the river run


Verse 3:
E
  Always the bride's maid, never the bride, hey
F#
  Fuck can I say, if life was a highway
E
  The sequel’s an enclave, I’ll be swerving in five lanes

E            F#
  Speeds at a high rate like I'm sliding on ice maybe
E
  That's why I'm made, that came at you sideways
F#
  I can't keep my lies straight

     E
What I made you terminate my baby
       F#
This love triangle left us in a wreck tangled
        E
What else can I say, it was fun for a while, bet I really woulda loved your smile

Didn't really wanna abort but fuck it, what's one more lie to tell an unborn child?


Chorus 3:
      G#m         B   E
I've been a liar, been a thief, been a lover, been a cheat
  F#  G#m         B    E
All my sins need holy water, feel it washin' over me
   F#    G#m                  B     E
Well little one, (I’m sorry) I don't want to admit to something (I fucked up)
              F#  G#m          B    E
If all it's gonna cause is pain,  the truth in my lies now are falling like the rain
      F#
So let the river run (river run, river run, river run)