Song 25 in Easy Piano for Adults and Seniors · Song 19 in Ukulele for Beginners

Red River Valley

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Piano

For Easy Piano for Adults and Seniors.

Slow (70% speed) (1:09)
Learn with this one first.

Normal speed (0:49)
The speed printed on the page.

Play-along (0:49)
Just the accompaniment, no tune: you play or sing the melody.

For Ukulele for Beginners.

Slow (70% speed) (1:09)
Learn with this one first.

Normal speed (0:49)
The speed printed on the page.

Play-along (0:49)
Just the accompaniment, no tune: you play or sing the melody.

From this valley they say you are going,
We will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile,
For they say you are taking the sunshine,
That brightens our pathway awhile.
Come and sit by my side if you love me,
Do not hasten to bid me adieu,
But remember the Red River Valley,
And the girl that has loved you so true.
For a long time I have been waiting,
For those dear words you never would say,
But at last all my fond hopes have vanished,
For they say you are going away.
Won't you think of the valley you're leaving?
Oh, how lonely, how sad it will be,
Oh, think of the fond heart you're breaking,
And the grief you are causing me to see.
As you go to your home by the ocean,
May you never forget those sweet hours,
That we spent in Red River Valley,
And the love we exchanged ‘mid the flowers.

Music: Traditional (North American, 1870s–1880s)
Words: Traditional
First published: Words printed 1887 (The Weekly Wisconsin, Milwaukee, 17 September 1887); widely printed and recorded by the 1920s
Copyright: Public domain in the US, UK and EU. The arrangement and recordings belong to the book.