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20 CLASSIC SONGS your friends will love

Beatles - Petty - Johnny Cash - Eagles - John Denver - Dylan

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    Bird on a Wire by Leonard Cohen, as performed by Willie Nelson


    Chord Guide

            123

    A:    x02220

           231

    E:    022100

             132

    D:    xx0232

              123

    Asus4:  x02230

           13421

    Bm:   x24432

     

    Intro:  A (4)

     

               A                E                 A                           D

    Like a bird on a wire, like a drunk in a midnight choir

                 A               E              A    Asus4 

    I have tried in my way to be free

            A         E             A                                                         D

    Like a worm on a hook, like a knight from some old-fashioned book

            A                     E                A (2) (walkup)

    I have saved all my ribbons for thee

     

    D (2)                         A (2)

      If I, if I have been unkind

    Bm (2)                                      A (2)  

      I hope that you can just let it go by

    D (2)                          A (2)

      If I, if I have been untrue,

    Bm (2)                                       E (2)

      I hope you know it was never to you.

     

               A           E               A                   D

    Like a baby stillborn, like a beast with his horn

               A            E                                    A (2)

    I have torn everyone who reached out for me.

                A                 E               A                             D

    But I swear by this song and by all that I have done wrong

              A         E              Asus4  A (walkup)

    I will make it all up to thee.

     

    D (2)                                                   A (2)

      I saw a beggar leaning on his wooden crutch

    Bm (2)                                                      A (2)     

        He said to me, "You must not ask for so much."

    D (2)                                                          A (2)

      And a pretty woman leaning in her darkened door,

    Bm (2)                                                   E (2)

       She cried to me, "Hey, why not ask for more?"

     

            A           E             A                   D

    Like a bird on a wire, like a drunk in a midnight choir

             A          E                     A (2)

    I have tried in my way to be free

     

    Instrumental Verse


    This file is the author's own work and represents his interpretation of this song. It's intended solely for private study, scholarship or research.