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Did You Know? Bird On A Wire is one of Leonard Cohen's signature songs. It was typically the first song he would play live.
About the song he said 'I always begin my connect with this song. It seems to return me to my duties. It was begun in Greece and finished in a motel in Hollywood. Some lines were changes in Oregon. I can't seem to get it perfect. Kris Kristofferson informed me that I had stolen part of the melody from another Nashville writer. He also said that he's putting the first couple of lines on his tombstone, and I'll be hurt if he doesn't'
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Difficulty Level Of Original Recorded Song: Blue Pick
Most Advanced Rhythm: White Pick
Most Advanced Chord Change: Blue Pick (White Pick when played with Django chords only, Orange when played with open chords only)
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White Pick Level
Bird On A Wire Chords And Strumming, Leonard Cohen
Django Chords:
(Capo Fret 2)
Django G chord
Django C chord
Django D chord
Django A chord
Strumming:
"Waltz Steps": |D D U D U |
Tempo: 128 bpm Key: A
Verse 1 -
| |G - - |G - - |D - - |D - - |
|G - - |G - - |C - - |C - - |
|G - - |G - - |D - - |D - - |
|G - - |G - - |G - - |G - - | | x 2
Like a (Gx2)bird on the (Dx2)wire
Like a (Gx2)drunk in a midnight (Cx2)choir
I have (Gx2)tried in my (Dx2)way to be (Gx4)free
Like a (Gx2)worm on a (Dx2)hook
Like a (Gx2)knight from some old-fashioned (Cx2)book
I have (Gx2)saved all my (Dx2)ribbons for (Gx4)thee
Chorus -
|C - - |C - - |C - - |C - - |
|G - - |G - - |G - - |G - - |
|A - - |A - - |A - - |A - - |
|G - - |G - - |G - - |G - - |
|C - - |C - - |C - - |C - - |
|G - - |G - - |G - - |G - - |
|A - - |A - - |A - - |A - - |
|D - - |D - - |D - - |D - - |
(Cx4) If I, if I have been un(Gx4)kind
(Ax4) I hope that you can just let it go (Gx4)by
(Cx4)) If I, if I have been un(Gx4)true
(Ax4) I hope you know it was never to (Dx4)you
Verse 2 -
| |G - - |G - - |D - - |D - - |
|G - - |G - - |C - - |C - - |
|G - - |G - - |D - - |D - - |
|G - - |G - - |G - - |G - - | | x 2
For like a (Gx2)baby, still(Dx2)born
Like a (Gx2)beast with his (Cx2)horn
I have (Gx2)torn every(Dx2)one who reached out for (Gx4)me
But I (Gx2)swear by this (Dx2)song
And by (Gx2)all that I have done (Cx2)wrong
(Gx2) I will make it (Dx2)all up to (Gx4)thee
Chorus -
|C - - |C - - |C - - |C - - |
|G - - |G - - |G - - |G - - |
|A - - |A - - |A - - |A - - |
|G - - |G - - |G - - |G - - |
|C - - |C - - |C - - |C - - |
|G - - |G - - |G - - |G - - |
|A - - |A - - |A - - |A - - |
|D - - |D - - |D - - |D - - |
(Cx4) I saw a beggar leaning on his wooden (Gx4)crutch
(Ax4) He said to me, "you must not ask for (Gx4)so much"
(Cx4) And a pretty woman leaning in her darkened (Gx4)door
(Ax4) She cried to me, "hey, why not ask for (Dx4)more?"
Final Verse -
|G - - |G - - |D - - |D - - |
|G - - |G - - |C - - |C - - |
|G - - |G - - |D - - |D - - |
|C (1 strum)|- - - |G
Like a (Gx2)bird on the (Dx2)wire
Like a (Gx2)drunk in a midnight (Cx2)choir
I have (Gx2)tried in my (Dx2)way to be (C)free (G)
Final Chord Strum: G
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Orange Pick Level - Strumming
Bird On A Wire Chords And Strumming, Leonard Cohen
Open Chords:
Open E & Esus4 chords
Open D chord
Open Bm7 chord
Open A, Asus2 & Asus4 chords
Strumming:
"Waltz Steps": |D D U D U |
Tempo: 128 bpm Key: A
Verse 1 -
| |A - - |A - - |E - - |E - - |
|A - - |A - - |D - - |D - - |
|A - - |A - - |E - - |E - - |
|A - - |Asus4 - - |A - Asus2 |A - - | | x 2
Like a (Ax2)bird on the (Ex2)wire
Like a (Ax2)drunk in a midnight (Dx2)choir
I have (Ax2)tried in my (Ex2)way to be (Ax4)free
Like a (Ax2)worm on a (Ex2)hook
Like a (Ax2)knight from some old-fashioned (Dx2)book
I have (Ax2)saved all my (Ex2)ribbons for (Ax4)thee
Chorus -
|D - - |D - - |D - - |D - - |
|A - - |A - - |A - - |A - - |
|Bm7 - |Bm7 - |Bm7 - |Bm7 - |
|A - - |A - - |A - - |A - - |
|D - - |D - - |D - - |D - - |
|A - - |A - - |A - - |A - - |
|Bm7 - |Bm7 - |Bm7 - |Bm7 - |
|E - - |Esus4 - - |E - - |E - - |
(Dx4) If I, if I have been un(Ax4)kind
(Bm7x4) I hope that you can just let it go (Ax4)by
(Dx4)) If I, if I have been un(Ax4)true
(Bm7x4) I hope you know it was never to (Ex4)you
Verse 2 -
| |A - - |A - - |E - - |E - - |
|A - - |A - - |D - - |D - - |
|A - - |A - - |E - - |E - - |
|A - - |Asus4 - - |A - Asus2 |A - - | | x 2
For like a (Ax2)baby, still(Ex2)born
Like a (Ax2)beast with his (Dx2)horn
I have (Ax2)torn every(Ex2)one who reached out for (Ax4)me
But I (Ax2)swear by this (Ex2)song
And by (Ax2)all that I have done (Dx2)wrong
(Ax2) I will make it (Ex2)all up to (Ax4)thee
Chorus -
|D - - |D - - |D - - |D - - |
|A - - |A - - |A - - |A - - |
|Bm7 - |Bm7 - |Bm7 - |Bm7 - |
|A - - |A - - |A - - |A - - |
|D - - |D - - |D - - |D - - |
|A - - |A - - |A - - |A - - |
|Bm7 - |Bm7 - |Bm7 - |Bm7 - |
|E - - |Esus4 - - |E - - |E - - |
(Dx4) I saw a beggar leaning on his wooden (Ax4)crutch
(Bm7x4) He said to me, "you must not ask for (Ax4)so much"
(Dx4) And a pretty woman leaning in her darkened (Ax4)door
(Bm7x4) She cried to me, "hey, why not ask for (Ex4)more?"
Final Verse -
|A - - |A - - |E - - |E - - |
|A - - |A - - |D - - |D - - |
|A - - |A - - |E - - |E - - |
|D(1 strum)|- - - |A
Like a (Ax2)bird on the (Ex2)wire
Like a (Ax2)drunk in a midnight (Dx2)choir
I have (Ax2)tried in my (Ex2)way to be (D)free (A)
Final Chord Strum: A
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Orange Pick Level - Fingerpicking
Bird On A Wire Chords And fingerpicking, Leonard Cohen
Open Chords:
Open E & Esus4 chords
Open D chord
Open Bm7 chord
Open A, Asus2 & Asus4 chords
Tempo: 128 bpm Key: A
Verse 1 -
Like a (Ax2)bird on the (Ex2)wire
Like a (Ax2)drunk in a midnight (Dx2)choir
I have (Ax2)tried in my (Ex2)way to be (Ax4)free
Like a (Ax2)worm on a (Ex2)hook
Like a (Ax2)knight from some old-fashioned (Dx2)book
I have (Ax2)saved all my (Ex2)ribbons for (Ax4)thee
Chorus -
(Dx4) If I, if I have been un(Ax4)kind
(Bm7x4) I hope that you can just let it go (Ax4)by
(Dx4)) If I, if I have been un(Ax4)true
(Bm7x4) I hope you know it was never to (Ex4)you
Verse 2 -
For like a (Ax2)baby, still(Ex2)born
Like a (Ax2)beast with his (Dx2)horn
I have (Ax2)torn every(Ex2)one who reached out for (Ax4)me
But I (Ax2)swear by this (Ex2)song
And by (Ax2)all that I have done (Dx2)wrong
(Ax2) I will make it (Ex2)all up to (Ax4)thee
Chorus -
(Dx4) I saw a beggar leaning on his wooden (Ax4)crutch
(Bm7x4) He said to me, "you must not ask for (Ax4)so much"
(Dx4) And a pretty woman leaning in her darkened (Ax4)door
(Bm7x4) She cried to me, "hey, why not ask for (Ex4)more?"
Final Verse -
Like a (Ax2)bird on the (Ex2)wire
Like a (Ax2)drunk in a midnight (Dx2)choir
I have (Ax2)tried in my (Ex2)way to be (D)free (A)
Final Chord Strum: A
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Blue Pick Level - Strumming
Bird On A Wire Chords And Strumming, Leonard Cohen
Open Chords:
Open E & Esus4 chords
Open D chord
Open A, Asus2 & Asus4 chords
Barre Chords:
Barre Bm chord
Strumming:
"Waltz Steps": |D D U D U |
Tempo: 128 bpm Key: A
Verse 1 -
| |A - - |A - - |E - - |E - - |
|A - - |A - - |D - - |D - - |
|A - - |A - - |E - - |E - - |
|A - - |Asus4 - - |A - Asus2 |A - - | | x 2
Like a (Ax2)bird on the (Ex2)wire
Like a (Ax2)drunk in a midnight (Dx2)choir
I have (Ax2)tried in my (Ex2)way to be (Ax4)free
Like a (Ax2)worm on a (Ex2)hook
Like a (Ax2)knight from some old-fashioned (Dx2)book
I have (Ax2)saved all my (Ex2)ribbons for (Ax4)thee
Chorus -
|D - - |D - - |D - - |D - - |
|A - - |A - - |A - - |A - - |
|Bm - |Bm - |Bm - |Bm - |
|A - - |A - - |A - - |A - - |
|D - - |D - - |D - - |D - - |
|A - - |A - - |A - - |A - - |
|Bm - |Bm - |Bm - |Bm - |
|E - - |Esus4 - - |E - - |E - - |
(Dx4) If I, if I have been un(Ax4)kind
(Bmx4) I hope that you can just let it go (Ax4)by
(Dx4)) If I, if I have been un(Ax4)true
(Bmx4) I hope you know it was never to (Ex4)you
Verse 2 -
| |A - - |A - - |E - - |E - - |
|A - - |A - - |D - - |D - - |
|A - - |A - - |E - - |E - - |
|A - - |Asus4 - - |A - Asus2 |A - - | | x 2
For like a (Ax2)baby, still(Ex2)born
Like a (Ax2)beast with his (Dx2)horn
I have (Ax2)torn every(Ex2)one who reached out for (Ax4)me
But I (Ax2)swear by this (Ex2)song
And by (Ax2)all that I have done (Dx2)wrong
(Ax2) I will make it (Ex2)all up to (Ax4)thee
Chorus -
|D - - |D - - |D - - |D - - |
|A - - |A - - |A - - |A - - |
|Bm - |Bm - |Bm - |Bm - |
|A - - |A - - |A - - |A - - |
|D - - |D - - |D - - |D - - |
|A - - |A - - |A - - |A - - |
|Bm - |Bm - |Bm - |Bm - |
|E - - |Esus4 - - |E - - |E - - |
(Dx4) I saw a beggar leaning on his wooden (Ax4)crutch
(Bmx4) He said to me, "you must not ask for (Ax4)so much"
(Dx4) And a pretty woman leaning in her darkened (Ax4)door
(Bmx4) She cried to me, "hey, why not ask for (Ex4)more?"
Final Verse -
|A - - |A - - |E - - |E - - |
|A - - |A - - |D - - |D - - |
|A - - |A - - |E - - |E - - |
|D(1 strum)|- - - |A
Like a (Ax2)bird on the (Ex2)wire
Like a (Ax2)drunk in a midnight (Dx2)choir
I have (Ax2)tried in my (Ex2)way to be (D)free (A)
Final Chord Strum: A
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Blue Pick Level - Fingerpicking
Bird On A Wire Chords And Fingerpicking, Leonard Cohen
Open Chords:
Open E & Esus4 chords
Open D chord
Open A, Asus2 & Asus4 chords
Barre Chords:
Open Bm chord
Tempo: 128 bpm Key: A
Verse 1 -
Like a (Ax2)bird on the (Ex2)wire
Like a (Ax2)drunk in a midnight (Dx2)choir
I have (Ax2)tried in my (Ex2)way to be (Ax4)free
Like a (Ax2)worm on a (Ex2)hook
Like a (Ax2)knight from some old-fashioned (Dx2)book
I have (Ax2)saved all my (Ex2)ribbons for (Ax4)thee
Chorus -
(Dx4) If I, if I have been un(Ax4)kind
(Bmx4) I hope that you can just let it go (Ax4)by
(Dx4)) If I, if I have been un(Ax4)true
(Bmx4) I hope you know it was never to (Ex4)you
Verse 2 -
For like a (Ax2)baby, still(Ex2)born
Like a (Ax2)beast with his (Dx2)horn
I have (Ax2)torn every(Ex2)one who reached out for (Ax4)me
But I (Ax2)swear by this (Ex2)song
And by (Ax2)all that I have done (Dx2)wrong
(Ax2) I will make it (Ex2)all up to (Ax4)thee
Chorus -
(Dx4) I saw a beggar leaning on his wooden (Ax4)crutch
(Bmx4) He said to me, "you must not ask for (Ax4)so much"
(Dx4) And a pretty woman leaning in her darkened (Ax4)door
(Bmx4) She cried to me, "hey, why not ask for (Ex4)more?"
Final Verse -
Like a (Ax2)bird on the (Ex2)wire
Like a (Ax2)drunk in a midnight (Dx2)choir
I have (Ax2)tried in my (Ex2)way to be (D)free (A)
Final Chord Strum: A
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Bird On A Wire Videos
Bird On A Wire Lyrics
Like a bird on the wire
Like a drunk in a midnight choir
I have tried in my way to be free
Like a worm on a hook
Like a knight from some old-fashioned book
I have saved all my ribbons for thee
If I, if I have been unkind
I hope that you can just let it go by
If I, if I have been untrue
I hope you know it was never to you
For like a baby, stillborn
Like a beast with his horn
I have torn everyone who reached out for me
But I swear by this song
And by all that I have done wrong
I will make it all up to thee
I saw a beggar leaning on his wooden crutch
He said to me, "you must not ask for so much"
And a pretty woman leaning in her darkened door
She cried to me, "hey, why not ask for more?"
Oh, like a bird on the wire
Like a drunk in a midnight choir
I have tried in my way to be free
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