Chords with lyrics (Ver. 2)
Tuning: EADGBE
(Scroll to bottom for a No Capo version that matches the original recording)
Chorus Verse
E minorEm 
G+G 
C majorC 
D MajorD E minorEm G+G C majorC D MajorD E minorEm G+G C majorC D MajorD E minorEm G+G C majorC 
A5A5 D MajorD
e|------------------|-------------------| e|------------------|--------------------|
BB|------------------|-------------------| BB|------------------|--------------------|
G+G|------------------|-------------------| G+G|---------------2--|--------------2--2--|
D MajorD|-------0--2-------|-------0--2----4\--| D MajorD|--2----0--2----0--|--2----0--2---2--0--|
A augmentedA|--2----2--3----5\-|--2----2--3----5\--| A augmentedA|--2----2--3----0--|--2----2--3---0--x--|
E MajorE|--0----3--3----5\-|--0----3--3--------| E MajorE|--0----3--3-------|--0----3--3------2--|
Notes: - C majorC is actually C/G, shown as C majorC for simplicity
- D MajorD is actually 
D/AD/A and 
D/F#D/F# during verse as defined above
Capo 4th fret
Intro Chorus:
E minorEm G+G C majorC
I've been a liar, been a thief, been a lover, been a cheat
D MajorD E minorEm G+G C majorC
All my sins need holy water, feel it washin' over me
D MajorD E minorEm G+G C majorC
Well little one, I don't want to admit to something
D MajorD E minorEm G+G C majorC
If all it's gonna cause is pain, truth in my lies right now are falling like the rain
D MajorD
So let the river run
Verse 1:
E minorEm G+G
He's coming home with his neck scratched to catch flack
C majorC D MajorD
Sweat jackets and dress slacks, mismatch
E minorEm G+G
On his breast jacket is a sex addict and she just wants to
C majorC A5A5 D MajorD
Exact revenge and get back
E minorEm G+G
It's a chess match, she's on his back like a jetpack
C majorC D MajorD
She's kept track of all his internet chats and guess who just
E minorEm G+G
Happens to be moving on to the next actually
C majorC A5A5 D MajorD
Just shit on my last chick and she has what my ex lacks
E minorEm G+G
'Cause she loves danger, psychopath
C majorC D MajorD
And you don't fuck with no man's girl, even I know that
E minorEm G+G
But she's devised some plan to stab him in the back
C majorC A5A5 D MajorD
Knife in hand, says the relationship's hanging by a strand
E minorEm G+G
So she's been on the web lately
C majorC D MajorD
Says maybe she'll be my Gwen Stacy, to spite her man
E minorEm G+G
And I know she's using me to try to play him
C majorC
I don't care, "hi Suzanne", but I shoulda' said "bye Suzanne"
After the first night, but tonight I am
Chorus 1:
E minorEm G+G C majorC
I've been a liar, been a thief, been a lover, been a cheat
D MajorD E minorEm G+G C majorC A5A5
All my sins need holy water, feel it washin' over me
E minorEm G+G C majorC
Well little one, I don't want to admit to something
D MajorD E minorEm G+G C majorC
If all it's gonna cause is pain, truth in my lies now are falling like the rain
A5A5
So let the river run
Verse 2:
E minorEm G+G
One night stand turned into two night stayin', it was cold
C majorC D MajorD
And some might scram, y'all we hug tight and
E minorEm G+G
He found out, now she feels deserted and used
C majorC A5A5 D MajorD
'Cause he left, so what, he did it first to her too
E minorEm G+G
Now how am I supposed to tell this girl that we're through?
C majorC D MajorD
It's hard to find the words, I'm aloof, nervous and suited
E minorEm
When it's too hurtful but what you deserve is the truth
G+G C majorC A5A5 D MajorD
Don't take it personal, I just can't say this in person to you
E minorEm G+G C majorC
So I revert to the studio like Hole In The Wall diners
D MajorD
Don't have to be reserved in a booth
E minorEm G+G
I just feel like the person who I'm turnin' into's
C majorC A5A5 D MajorD
Irreversible, I prayed on you like it's church at the pew
E minorEm
And now that I got you I don't want you
G+G C majorC
Took advantage of my thirst to pursue
D MajorD
Why do I do this dirt that I do?
E minorEm G+G
Get off my soapbox and preach, my sermon in speech
C majorC
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:
E minorEm G+G C majorC
I've been (fuck!) a liar, been a thief, been a lover, been a cheat
D MajorD E minorEm G+G C majorC A5A5
All my sins need holy water, feel it washin' over me
E minorEm G+G C majorC
Well little one, I don't want to admit to something
D MajorD E minorEm G+G C majorC
If all it's gonna cause is pain, truth in my lies now are falling like the rain
A5A5
So let the river run
Bridge:
E minorEm G+G C majorC
My name's (oh-oh), my name's (oh-oh) Denver (oh-oh), never run
E minorEm G+G C majorC
Just call me (oh-oh), call me (oh-oh) River (oh-oh)
N.C.
We'll let the river run
Verse 3:
C majorC
Always the bride's maid, never the bride, hey
D5D5
Fuck can I say, if life was a highway
C majorC
The sequel’s an enclave, I’ll be swerving in five lanes
E minorEm D5D5
Speeds at a high rate like I'm sliding on ice maybe
C majorC
That's why I'm made, that came at you sideways
E minorEm
I can't keep my lies straight
C majorC
What I made you terminate my baby
E minorEm
This love triangle left us in a wreck tangled
C majorC
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:
E minorEm G+G C majorC
I've been a liar, been a thief, been a lover, been a cheat
D MajorD E minorEm G+G C majorC
All my sins need holy water, feel it washin' over me
D MajorD E minorEm G+G C majorC
Well little one, (I’m sorry) I don't want to admit to something (I fucked up)
D MajorD E minorEm G+G C majorC
If all it's gonna cause is pain, the truth in my lies now are falling like the rain
D MajorD
So let the river run (river run, river run, river run)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No capo version (matches original recording)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chorus Verse
G# minorG#m BB E MajorE 
F#F# G# minorG#m BB E MajorE F#F# G# minorG#m BB E MajorE F#F# G# minorG#m BB E MajorE 
C#5C#5 F#F#
e|------------------|-------------------| e|------------------|--------------------|
BB|------------------|-------------------| BB|------------------|--------------------|
G+G|------------------|-------------------| G+G|-------4----------|-------4------6-----|
D MajorD|-------4--6-------|-------4--6----8\--| D MajorD|--6----4--2----4--|--6----4--2---6--4--|
A augmentedA|--6----6--7----9\-|--6----6--7----9\--| A augmentedA|--6----2--2----4--|--6----2--2---4--4--|
E MajorE|--4----7--0----9\-|--4----7--0--------| E MajorE|--4-------0----2--|--4-------0------2--|
Note: last F#F# during Intro Chorus is played as a power chord (244xxx)
Intro Chorus:
G# minorG#m BB E MajorE
I've been a liar, been a thief, been a lover, been a cheat
F#F# G# minorG#m BB E MajorE
All my sins need holy water, feel it washin' over me
F#F# G# minorG#m BB E MajorE
Well little one, I don't want to admit to something
F#F# G# minorG#m BB E MajorE
If all it's gonna cause is pain, truth in my lies right now are falling like the rain
F#F#
So let the river run
Verse 1:
G# minorG#m BB
He's coming home with his neck scratched to catch flack
E MajorE F#F#
Sweat jackets and dress slacks, mismatch
G# minorG#m BB
On his breast jacket is a sex addict and she just wants to
E MajorE C#5C#5 F#F#
Exact revenge and get back
G# minorG#m BB
It's a chess match, she's on his back like a jetpack
E MajorE F#F#
She's kept track of all his internet chats and guess who just
G# minorG#m BB
Happens to be moving on to the next actually
E MajorE C#5C#5 F#F#
Just shit on my last chick and she has what my ex lacks
G# minorG#m BB
'Cause she loves danger, psychopath
E MajorE F#F#
And you don't fuck with no man's girl, even I know that
G# minorG#m BB
But she's devised some plan to stab him in the back
E MajorE C#5C#5 F#F#
Knife in hand, says the relationship's hanging by a strand
G# minorG#m BB
So she's been on the web lately
E MajorE F#F#
Says maybe she'll be my Gwen Stacy, to spite her man
G# minorG#m BB
And I know she's using me to try to play him
E MajorE
I don't care, "hi Suzanne", but I shoulda' said "bye Suzanne"
After the first night, but tonight I am
Chorus 1:
G# minorG#m BB E MajorE
I've been a liar, been a thief, been a lover, been a cheat
F#F# G# minorG#m BB E MajorE C#5C#5
All my sins need holy water, feel it washin' over me
G# minorG#m BB E MajorE
Well little one, I don't want to admit to something
F#F# G# minorG#m BB E MajorE
If all it's gonna cause is pain, truth in my lies now are falling like the rain
C#5C#5
So let the river run
Verse 2:
G# minorG#m BB
One night stand turned into two night stayin', it was cold
E MajorE F#F#
And some might scram, y'all we hug tight and
G# minorG#m BB
He found out, now she feels deserted and used
E MajorE C#5C#5 F#F#
'Cause he left, so what, he did it first to her too
G# minorG#m BB
Now how am I supposed to tell this girl that we're through?
E MajorE F#F#
It's hard to find the words, I'm aloof, nervous and suited
G# minorG#m
When it's too hurtful but what you deserve is the truth
BB E MajorE C#5C#5 F#F#
Don't take it personal, I just can't say this in person to you
G# minorG#m BB E MajorE
So I revert to the studio like Hole In The Wall diners
F#F#
Don't have to be reserved in a booth
G# minorG#m BB
I just feel like the person who I'm turnin' into's
E MajorE C#5C#5 F#F#
Irreversible, I prayed on you like it's church at the pew
G# minorG#m
And now that I got you I don't want you
BB E MajorE
Took advantage of my thirst to pursue
F#F#
Why do I do this dirt that I do?
G# minorG#m BB
Get off my soapbox and preach, my sermon in speech
E MajorE
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# minorG#m BB E MajorE
I've been (fuck!) a liar, been a thief, been a lover, been a cheat
F#F# G# minorG#m BB E MajorE C#5C#5
All my sins need holy water, feel it washin' over me
G# minorG#m BB E MajorE
Well little one, I don't want to admit to something
F#F# G# minorG#m BB E MajorE
If all it's gonna cause is pain, truth in my lies now are falling like the rain
C#5C#5
So let the river run
Bridge:
G# minorG#m BB E MajorE
My name's (oh-oh), my name's (oh-oh) Denver (oh-oh), never run
G# minorG#m BB E MajorE
Just call me (oh-oh), call me (oh-oh) River (oh-oh)
N.C.
We'll let the river run
Verse 3:
E MajorE
Always the bride's maid, never the bride, hey
F#F#
Fuck can I say, if life was a highway
E MajorE
The sequel’s an enclave, I’ll be swerving in five lanes
G# minorG#m F#F#
Speeds at a high rate like I'm sliding on ice maybe
E MajorE
That's why I'm made, that came at you sideways
G# minorG#m
I can't keep my lies straight
E MajorE
What I made you terminate my baby
G# minorG#m
This love triangle left us in a wreck tangled
E MajorE
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# minorG#m BB E MajorE
I've been a liar, been a thief, been a lover, been a cheat
F#F# G# minorG#m BB E MajorE
All my sins need holy water, feel it washin' over me
F#F# G# minorG#m BB E MajorE
Well little one, (I’m sorry) I don't want to admit to something (I fucked up)
F#F# G# minorG#m BB E MajorE
If all it's gonna cause is pain, the truth in my lies now are falling like the rain
F#F#
So let the river run (river run, river run, river run)
Other versions of River
Alternative guitar chords and tabs for River by Eminem Ft. Ed Sheeran
