Am
Joey was a man from the other side
G
Came across the sea for a better life
FE
When he got close they made him change his name
Am
Push along a cart through the market place
G
Keep it in your heart when you're getting spades
FE
But that was so many years ago
[Pre-Chorus]
CF
I lived in many places, I've fallen out of graces
CG
I tried to feed the fire for so long
[Chorus]
C
Hey man, where you going
F
Up town the river's rolling
CGC
The sun comes, I'll be on my way
[Verse]
Am
A Nietzsche mustache and a peasant's hat
G
Five hungry kids in a water flat
FE
Maybe I'll make a little more today
Am
A new world dream and some old school pride
G
He couldn't make a meet so he took his life
CE
I saw a photograph and made memories in my mind
[Pre-Chorus]
CF
I've fallen out of graces, I've ran so many races
CG
I tried to breathe the fire for so long
[Chorus]
C
Hey man, where you going
F
Up town the river's rolling
CGC
The sun comes, I'll be on my way
CFCGCFCG
[Verse]
C
Well he was on the blacklist in '53
F
And he talked about the conspiracy
AmG
He said the next war is gonna blow us all away
C
I played in churches and I prayed in bars
F
A young kid with a sad guitar
AmG
To get close I had to go far away
C
Well I became a drifter
F
Sent postcards to my sister
AmG
And I can hear her smile even when I'm far away
[Chorus]
C
Hey man, where you going
F
Up town the river's rolling
CGC
The sun comes, I'll be on my way
[Verse]
C
Well I drank with kings and danced with whores
F
On mountain tops and distant shores
AmG
But you made me feel like someone I wished to be
C
I tried to wear my father's clothes
F
I planted seeds that didn't grow
AmG
With a handful of thorns I thought that I was free
C
Worked in a bank, drove a diesel van
F
Even Sonny Wortzik had a plan
AmG
Do your time and get out of society
[Chorus]
C
Hey man, where you going
F
Up town the river's rolling
CGC
The sun comes, I'll be on my way
[Verse]
C
Now you're sitting in an office, you've never seen the world
F
Gonna blame it on the government or a girl
AmG
But there's somewhere else you know you'd rather be
C
Scratching off the numbers in a liquor store
F
Dreaming of picking up a '44
AmG
Tell me more about your fantasy
[Chorus]
C
Hey man, where you going
F
Up town the river's rolling
CGC
The sun comes, I'll be on my way
CFCGCFCG
[Verse]
C
From Spanish Harlem to Ditmas Park
F
A lonely game of court and spark
AmG
I wrote a song, I figured it's the only way
C
And the girls from school all married stiffs
F
With a flat screen and couple kids
AmG
And they say a prayer in their own little way
C
Well a friend of mine became a priest
F
And we lost another in the Middle East
AmG
Well, you know it's dark when atheists start to pray
[Chorus]
C
Hey man, where you going
F
Up town the river's rolling
CGC
The sun comes, I'll be on my way
[Verse]
C
Boxes in the corner neatly stacked
F
Parts of me, paper and wax
AmG
For a headline day to ride in that Cadillac
C
And when it's over and I've had my fill
F
They're gonna put my body up on Cypress Hill
AmG
Near Houdini for the final disappearing act
[Chorus]
C
Hey man, where you going
F
Up town the river's rolling
CGC
The sun comes, I'll be on my way
C
Hey man, whatcha doing
F
All along the road to ruin
CGG
You know it's dark when Atheists start to pray
[Verse]
FCG
From the fox holes to the quarter
CFC
Got your mojo workin'
GCFC
Or whatever you believe in, all your voodoo
GCFC
Well, the river runs deep and the river runs wide
[Outro]
FCGCFCGCFCGCFCGC