Down The River

Chords

Low-G Tuning

Am          C
I was 18 my brother was 21
Am                        C
One saturday evenin when all the work was done
   G                                  F   
We went down to the river we had some trot lines to run
Am                      C
My brother walter had a fight the week before
Am                          C
Knocked a boy named wilson through the pool hall door
      G                              F
They said you dont mess with wilson unless you want a war
Am                                 C
I put the boat in the water and i made the engine run
Am                    C
I loaded the lantern against the sinking sun
    G                      F
And my brother walter was loading his gun
    C        G        Am
And we went down the river
Am                                C
Down past the coal docks we were running our lines
Am                         C
Heard some drunken boaters racing up behind
        G                             F
It was wilson and his cousin they had trouble on their minds
Am                            C
They passed on by us probably going to tend their pots
Am                     C
We headed up the river with the fish we'd caught
    G                             F
But before we made the landing i thought i heard a shot
C    G        Am
Back down the river
Am                     C
My brother walter fell over the side
Am                        C
And i couldnt find him no matter how i tried
      G                                   F
And i looked along the bank but i couldnt find where they'd hide
Am                       C
They drug the river they searched it up and down
Am                            C
Couldnt find his body so they decided that he'd drowned
    G                          F
But i knew better cause wilson bragged around town
Am                                C
So one night i floated down right above wilsons shack
Am                          C
I hid in the woods untill i saw him walk out back
        G                       F
I put a bullet in his head and dropped him in his tracks
     C       G        Am
Then we went down the river
Am                               C
Down below the trestle where the water runs slow
Am                        C
I chained him to an anvil then i let him go
    G                 F
And five years later well i aint told a soul
Am                            C
And i aint done much fishin i hardly wet a line
Am                               C
The death of my brother is still heavy on my mind
          G                              F
I've been thinking wilsons cousin better find a place to hide
      C        G        Am         C        G        Am
Cause i'm goin down the river yeah i'm goin down the river