Dm Gm Dm A Dm


[Verse 1]

Dm
Don’t go by the river

If you love your wife
              Gm
‘Cause you’ll make that girl a widow
           Dm                       
And you’ll cause her pain and strife
   A                       *G
If you go by the river side,
                 Gm       Dm
You’ll lose your l-l-l-l-life!

Dm
People by the river,

They know who’s the boss
        Gm
They’ll get at fancy city folks
   Dm
No matter what the cost
       A                        *G
And if you go by the river side,
              Gm       Dm
You’ll end up l-l-l-l-lost!


[Chorus]

Gm
 There's a bat they call Lestat
       Dm 
Who’ll sink his teeth in you
Gm                                  Dm
 You might meet a creature from the swampy black lagoon
Gm
 And if the moon is full,
    Dm
You might meet the loup-garou
A
Don’t go by the river side,
Gm                      Dm
 You’ll be sorry if you do!


[Verse 2]

Dm
A young man met a lady

And she made this fellow swoon
        Gm
So they went on down to New Orleans
   Dm
To elope under the moon
   A                         *G
He took her by the river side,
                     Gm    Dm
To give her the heir l-l-l-loom!

Dm
Well the next day he got outta bed and

She wasn’t by his side
   Gm
He searched the quarter high and low
         Dm
When the bayou far and wide
A                      *G
Locals say she ran away 
                  Gm      Dm
But you know they l-l-l-l-lie!


[Chorus]

Gm
 There's a bat they call Lestat
       Dm 
Who’ll sink his teeth in you
Gm                                  Dm
 You might meet a creature from the swampy black lagoon
Gm
 And if the moon is full,
    Dm
You might meet the loup-garou
A
Don’t go by the river side,
Gm                      Dm
 You’ll be sorry if you do!


[Bridge]

Gm                                Dm
 Who shivers when they hear about voo-doo?
Gm                            Dm
 Don’t lie to me, boy, I know you do!
Gm                                   Dm
 You better tremble when you hear me call!
             A
‘Cause you’d make a lovely shrunken head
                              Dm
You’ll be my favorite voo-doo doll!


[Instrumental]

Dm Gm A
Dm Dm Gm Dm A Dm


[Verse 3]

Dm
Sting went by the river,

Now he slings on Bourbon Street
    Gm                                         Dm
And there’s that song by Concrete Blonde about where it’s warm and green
       A                       *G
And if you go by the river side,
             Gm      Dm
You’ll never l-l-l-l-leave!


[Chorus]

Gm
 There's a bat they call Lestat
       Dm 
Who’ll sink his teeth in you
Gm                                  Dm
 You might meet a creature from the swampy black lagoon
Gm
 And if the moon is full,
    Dm
You might meet the loup-garou
A
Don’t go by the river side,
(Don’t go by the river side!)
A
Said don’t go by that river side,
(Said don’t go by that river side!)
A
Don’t go by the river side,
(Why's that?)
                                Dm
‘Cause you might meet me if you do! 


[Outro]
A Dm

E|-----------|
* means strum once