Life Is A River Lyrics And Chords By Derek Ryan
Along with Derek Ryan, the song was also recorded by Owen Mac. The sheet music and tin whistle notes are available below.
As I went out walking, on a fine summer day.
Through hills and the valleys, I soon lost my way.
'till I came to an old man, kneeling down by a stream.
Gazing into the water, like he was lost in a dream.
In his hand was a picture, he clung to for life.
His eyes filled with tears, as he tried not to cry.
He looked to the heaven's and started to pray.
In the quiet country silence, I could hear the man say.
Chorus.
Life is a river, I'll go with the flow.
And where it will take me, the Lord only knows.
I miss you sweetheart, your kindness and love.
But I know one day, we'll sail away on God's ocean above.
He said now young man, your a stranger to me.
Could I bother you kindly, for your company.
Today I am thinking, of a time long ago.
And I need to tell someone, of a girl I loved so.
It's forty two years today, since Rose took my hand.
And proudly I lived life, her husband her man.
'till only last week son, God took her away.
As I kissed her softly, these words she did say.
Life is a river, I'll go with the flow.
And where it will take me, the Lord only knows.
I miss you sweetheart, your kindness and love.
But I know one day, we'll sail away on God's ocean above.
And with that the old man, sent me on my way.
And sat by the water, I'll kneel for the day
I look at the river, starting out on it's life.
It's where I've been close to, my beautiful wife.
Here's The Guitar Chords- Derek uses a capo on the 1st fret
(G) As I went out walking, on a fine summer (C) day.
Through the hills and the (D) valleys, I soon lost my (G) way
'till I came to an old man, kneeling down by a (C) stream,
gazing into the (D) water, like he was lost in a (G) dream.
In his hand was a (C) picture, he clung to for (G) life.
His eyes filled with (a7) tears, as he tried not to (D) cry.
Then he looked to the (C) heavens and started to (G) pray.
In the quiet country (a7) silence, I could (D) hear the man (G) say.
Chorus:
Life is a river I'll go with the (C) flow.
And where it will (D) take me, the Lord only (G) kno---(D)ws.
I miss you (G) sweetheart, your kindness and (C) love.
But I know one (G) day, we'll sail a(D)way on God's ocean a(G)bove.
He said now young man, your a stranger to (C) me.
Could I bother you (D) kindly, for your compa(G)ny.
Today I am thinking, of a time long a(C)go.
And I need to tell (D) someone of a girl I loved (G) so.
It's forty two (C) years today, since Rose took my (G) hand.
And proudly I (a7) lived life, her husband her (D) man.
'Till only last (C) week son, God took her a(G)way.
As I kissed her (a7) softly, (D) these words she did (G) say.
Chorus:
Life is a river I'll go with the (C) flow.
And where it will (D) take me, the Lord only (G) kno---(D)ws.
I miss you (G) sweetheart, your kindness and (C) love.
But I know one (G) day, we'll sail a(D)way on God's ocean a(G)bove.
And with that the (C) old man, sent me on my (G) way.
And sat by the (a7) water, I'll kneel for the (D) day
I look at the (C) river, starting out on its (G) life.
It's where I've been (a7) close to, (D) my beautiful (G) wife.
(G) As I went out walking, on a fine summer (C) day.
Through the hills and the (D) valleys, I soon lost my (G) way
'till I came to an old man, kneeling down by a (C) stream,
gazing into the (D) water, like he was lost in a (G) dream.
In his hand was a (C) picture, he clung to for (G) life.
His eyes filled with (a7) tears, as he tried not to (D) cry.
Then he looked to the (C) heavens and started to (G) pray.
In the quiet country (a7) silence, I could (D) hear the man (G) say.
Chorus:
Life is a river I'll go with the (C) flow.
And where it will (D) take me, the Lord only (G) kno---(D)ws.
I miss you (G) sweetheart, your kindness and (C) love.
But I know one (G) day, we'll sail a(D)way on God's ocean a(G)bove.
He said now young man, your a stranger to (C) me.
Could I bother you (D) kindly, for your compa(G)ny.
Today I am thinking, of a time long a(C)go.
And I need to tell (D) someone of a girl I loved (G) so.
It's forty two (C) years today, since Rose took my (G) hand.
And proudly I (a7) lived life, her husband her (D) man.
'Till only last (C) week son, God took her a(G)way.
As I kissed her (a7) softly, (D) these words she did (G) say.
Chorus:
Life is a river I'll go with the (C) flow.
And where it will (D) take me, the Lord only (G) kno---(D)ws.
I miss you (G) sweetheart, your kindness and (C) love.
But I know one (G) day, we'll sail a(D)way on God's ocean a(G)bove.
And with that the (C) old man, sent me on my (G) way.
And sat by the (a7) water, I'll kneel for the (D) day
I look at the (C) river, starting out on its (G) life.
It's where I've been (a7) close to, (D) my beautiful (G) wife.
🎶 “Life Is a River” — Guitar Arrangement
Key: G major
Meter: 3/4 (waltz)
Tempo: ♩ = 166 (steady but gentle)
Tuning: Standard (EADGBE)
🎸 1️⃣ STRUMMING PATTERN — Gentle Irish Waltz Feel
Use a smooth, rocking motion:
Pattern: Bass – Down – Down
Count: 1 (bass) 2 (down) 3 (down)
On beat 1, play the bass note (lowest note of the chord).
On beats 2 and 3, strum the top 3–4 strings softly.
Think of the motion like “Oom-cha-cha.”
Example (G chord):
e|--3---------3---3---|
B|--0---------0---0---|
G|--0---------0---0---|
D|--0---------0---0---|
A|--2---------------2-|
E|--3-----------------|
1 2 3
↓ ↓ ↓
(Bass) Down Down
Use a lighter touch for verses and a fuller strum for chorus lines (“Life is a river…”).
🎵 2️⃣ CHORDS USED
Chord Fingering Note
G 320003 home key
G6 320000 open, dreamy texture
Gmaj7 320002
Gsus4 320013
D xx0232
Dsus4 xx0233 gentle suspension
D9 xx0210
D7 xx0212 dominant tension
C x32010
C9 x32030
Cmaj7 x32000
Cmaj13 x32000 optional lush color
C/G 332010 fuller bass
Am7 x02010
A7 x02020
Asus2 x02200
Em 022000
Gmaj9/F# 200002 leading chord
AbBsus2, Ebsus2F treat as F or Fm passing tones
D69 xx0200 light ending variant
🎼 3️⃣ CHORD OUTLINE (matched to your ABC)
Section Lyrics Chords
Verse 1 As I went out walking on a fine summer day G – Dsus4 – G
Through hills and the valleys I soon lost my way C – D – G
Till I came to an old man kneeling by a stream G – Gsus4 – G
Gazing into the water as he was lost in a dream C9 – D7 – Gmaj7
Verse 2 In his hand was a picture he clung to for life G – C – D7
His eyes filled with tears as he tried not to cry G – Asus2 – D7
Then he looked to the heavens and started to pray C9 – G6 – D9
Chorus “Life is a river, I’ll go with the flow” G – C – G
“And where it will take me, the Lord only knows” C – D – G
“I miss you sweet heart, your kindness and love” D7 – G – C – G
“But I know one day we’ll sail away on God’s ocean above.” D – Gmaj7 – G
🎸 4️⃣ FINGERPICKING PATTERN — Waltz Arpeggio Flow
A 3/4 rolling arpeggio that follows the melody’s flow.
Pattern (one measure): P – i – m – a – m – i
P (thumb): plays root (E, A, or D string).
i, m, a: pick G, B, and high E strings.
Keep thumb steady and roll fingers gently upward.
Example (G chord):
G
e|---------3-----------3---|
B|-------0---0-------0---0-|
G|-----0-------0---0-------|
D|---0----------------------|
A|-2------------------------|
E|3-------------------------|
P i m a m i
Example (C chord):
C
e|---------0-----------0---|
B|-------1---1-------1---1-|
G|-----0-------0---0-------|
D|---2----------------------|
A|-3------------------------|
E|--------------------------|
🎵 5️⃣ INTRO & FIRST VERSE — Fingerpicking TAB
“As I went out walking on a fine summer day…”
G Dsus4 G
e|---------3-----------3---|---------3-----------3---|---------3-----------3---|
B|-------0---0-------0---0-|-------3---3-------3---3-|-------0---0-------0---0-|
G|-----0-------0---0-------|-----2-------2---2-------|-----0-------0---0-------|
D|---0----------------------|---0---------------------|---0---------------------|
A|-2------------------------|-------------------------|-2-----------------------|
E|3--------------------------|-------------------------|3------------------------|
As I went out walking on a fine summer day...
C D G
e|---------0-----------0---|---------2-----------2---|---------3-----------3---|
B|-------1---1-------1---1-|-------3---3-------3---3-|-------0---0-------0---0-|
G|-----0-------0---0-------|-----2-------2---2-------|-----0-------0---0-------|
D|---2----------------------|---0---------------------|---0---------------------|
A|-3------------------------|-------------------------|-2-----------------------|
E|--------------------------|-------------------------|3------------------------|
Through hills and the valleys I soon lost my way...
🎵 6️⃣ CHORUS TAB (“Life is a river, I’ll go with the flow”)
G C
e|---------3-----------3---|---------0-----------0---|
B|-------0---0-------0---0-|-------1---1-------1---1-|
G|-----0-------0---0-------|-----0-------0---0-------|
D|---0----------------------|---2---------------------|
A|-2------------------------|-3-----------------------|
E|3--------------------------|------------------------|
Life is a river, I'll go with the flow...
C D7 G
e|---------0-----------0---|---------2-----------2---|---------3-----------3---|
B|-------1---1-------1---1-|-------1---1-------1---1-|-------0---0-------0---0-|
G|-----0-------0---0-------|-----2-------2---2-------|-----0-------0---0-------|
D|---2----------------------|---0---------------------|---0---------------------|
A|-3------------------------|-------------------------|-2-----------------------|
E|--------------------------|-------------------------|3------------------------|
Where it will take me, the Lord only knows...
🎧 7️⃣ PERFORMANCE TIPS
Keep your tempo flowing steadily, like a river current—never rushed.
Add light hammer-ons on beats 2 or 3 (e.g., on G → G6).
Switch between fingerpicking (verses) and gentle strumming (chorus).
Use Gmaj7 and Cmaj7 to add dreamy color before cadence lines.
End with D7 → Gmaj7 → G6 → G, letting it ring naturally.
🎵 8️⃣ OUTRO (last line “God’s ocean above”)
D7 Gmaj7 G
e|---------2-----------2---|---------2-----------2---|---------3-----------3---|
B|-------1---1-------1---1-|-------0---0-------0---0-|-------0---0-------0---0-|
G|-----2-------2---2-------|-----0-------0---0-------|-----0-------0---0-------|
D|---0----------------------|-------------------------|---0---------------------|
A|--------------------------|-------------------------|-2-----------------------|
E|--------------------------|-------------------------|3------------------------|
We'll sail away on God's ocean above...
Let the final G ring softly.
Key: G major
Meter: 3/4 (waltz)
Tempo: ♩ = 166 (steady but gentle)
Tuning: Standard (EADGBE)
🎸 1️⃣ STRUMMING PATTERN — Gentle Irish Waltz Feel
Use a smooth, rocking motion:
Pattern: Bass – Down – Down
Count: 1 (bass) 2 (down) 3 (down)
On beat 1, play the bass note (lowest note of the chord).
On beats 2 and 3, strum the top 3–4 strings softly.
Think of the motion like “Oom-cha-cha.”
Example (G chord):
e|--3---------3---3---|
B|--0---------0---0---|
G|--0---------0---0---|
D|--0---------0---0---|
A|--2---------------2-|
E|--3-----------------|
1 2 3
↓ ↓ ↓
(Bass) Down Down
Use a lighter touch for verses and a fuller strum for chorus lines (“Life is a river…”).
🎵 2️⃣ CHORDS USED
Chord Fingering Note
G 320003 home key
G6 320000 open, dreamy texture
Gmaj7 320002
Gsus4 320013
D xx0232
Dsus4 xx0233 gentle suspension
D9 xx0210
D7 xx0212 dominant tension
C x32010
C9 x32030
Cmaj7 x32000
Cmaj13 x32000 optional lush color
C/G 332010 fuller bass
Am7 x02010
A7 x02020
Asus2 x02200
Em 022000
Gmaj9/F# 200002 leading chord
AbBsus2, Ebsus2F treat as F or Fm passing tones
D69 xx0200 light ending variant
🎼 3️⃣ CHORD OUTLINE (matched to your ABC)
Section Lyrics Chords
Verse 1 As I went out walking on a fine summer day G – Dsus4 – G
Through hills and the valleys I soon lost my way C – D – G
Till I came to an old man kneeling by a stream G – Gsus4 – G
Gazing into the water as he was lost in a dream C9 – D7 – Gmaj7
Verse 2 In his hand was a picture he clung to for life G – C – D7
His eyes filled with tears as he tried not to cry G – Asus2 – D7
Then he looked to the heavens and started to pray C9 – G6 – D9
Chorus “Life is a river, I’ll go with the flow” G – C – G
“And where it will take me, the Lord only knows” C – D – G
“I miss you sweet heart, your kindness and love” D7 – G – C – G
“But I know one day we’ll sail away on God’s ocean above.” D – Gmaj7 – G
🎸 4️⃣ FINGERPICKING PATTERN — Waltz Arpeggio Flow
A 3/4 rolling arpeggio that follows the melody’s flow.
Pattern (one measure): P – i – m – a – m – i
P (thumb): plays root (E, A, or D string).
i, m, a: pick G, B, and high E strings.
Keep thumb steady and roll fingers gently upward.
Example (G chord):
G
e|---------3-----------3---|
B|-------0---0-------0---0-|
G|-----0-------0---0-------|
D|---0----------------------|
A|-2------------------------|
E|3-------------------------|
P i m a m i
Example (C chord):
C
e|---------0-----------0---|
B|-------1---1-------1---1-|
G|-----0-------0---0-------|
D|---2----------------------|
A|-3------------------------|
E|--------------------------|
🎵 5️⃣ INTRO & FIRST VERSE — Fingerpicking TAB
“As I went out walking on a fine summer day…”
G Dsus4 G
e|---------3-----------3---|---------3-----------3---|---------3-----------3---|
B|-------0---0-------0---0-|-------3---3-------3---3-|-------0---0-------0---0-|
G|-----0-------0---0-------|-----2-------2---2-------|-----0-------0---0-------|
D|---0----------------------|---0---------------------|---0---------------------|
A|-2------------------------|-------------------------|-2-----------------------|
E|3--------------------------|-------------------------|3------------------------|
As I went out walking on a fine summer day...
C D G
e|---------0-----------0---|---------2-----------2---|---------3-----------3---|
B|-------1---1-------1---1-|-------3---3-------3---3-|-------0---0-------0---0-|
G|-----0-------0---0-------|-----2-------2---2-------|-----0-------0---0-------|
D|---2----------------------|---0---------------------|---0---------------------|
A|-3------------------------|-------------------------|-2-----------------------|
E|--------------------------|-------------------------|3------------------------|
Through hills and the valleys I soon lost my way...
🎵 6️⃣ CHORUS TAB (“Life is a river, I’ll go with the flow”)
G C
e|---------3-----------3---|---------0-----------0---|
B|-------0---0-------0---0-|-------1---1-------1---1-|
G|-----0-------0---0-------|-----0-------0---0-------|
D|---0----------------------|---2---------------------|
A|-2------------------------|-3-----------------------|
E|3--------------------------|------------------------|
Life is a river, I'll go with the flow...
C D7 G
e|---------0-----------0---|---------2-----------2---|---------3-----------3---|
B|-------1---1-------1---1-|-------1---1-------1---1-|-------0---0-------0---0-|
G|-----0-------0---0-------|-----2-------2---2-------|-----0-------0---0-------|
D|---2----------------------|---0---------------------|---0---------------------|
A|-3------------------------|-------------------------|-2-----------------------|
E|--------------------------|-------------------------|3------------------------|
Where it will take me, the Lord only knows...
🎧 7️⃣ PERFORMANCE TIPS
Keep your tempo flowing steadily, like a river current—never rushed.
Add light hammer-ons on beats 2 or 3 (e.g., on G → G6).
Switch between fingerpicking (verses) and gentle strumming (chorus).
Use Gmaj7 and Cmaj7 to add dreamy color before cadence lines.
End with D7 → Gmaj7 → G6 → G, letting it ring naturally.
🎵 8️⃣ OUTRO (last line “God’s ocean above”)
D7 Gmaj7 G
e|---------2-----------2---|---------2-----------2---|---------3-----------3---|
B|-------1---1-------1---1-|-------0---0-------0---0-|-------0---0-------0---0-|
G|-----2-------2---2-------|-----0-------0---0-------|-----0-------0---0-------|
D|---0----------------------|-------------------------|---0---------------------|
A|--------------------------|-------------------------|-2-----------------------|
E|--------------------------|-------------------------|3------------------------|
We'll sail away on God's ocean above...
Let the final G ring softly.
Below is the list of sheet music and tin whistle songs that are in my ebooks. This is the largest collection of tin whistle songs ever put together.[over 1,000 songs ] Including folk, pop and trad tunes plus German And French songs along with Christmas Carols.
All of the sheet music tabs have been made as easy to play as was possible.
The price of the ebooks is €7.50 . Life Is A River Sheet Music And Tin Whistle Notes Are Included.
All of the sheet music tabs have been made as easy to play as was possible.
The price of the ebooks is €7.50 . Life Is A River Sheet Music And Tin Whistle Notes Are Included.
Derek Ryan Life Is A River Song
Life Is A River sheet music is here
