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Leonard Cohen - Bird on the Wire Chords

Chord reference A, E7, A7, D, Bm
Rhythm tips ↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

Like a [A]bird on the [E7]wire Like a [A]drunk in a [A7]midnight [D]choir I have [A]tried in my [E7]way to be [A]free [A]

Like a [A]worm on a [E7]hook Like a [A]knight from some [A7]old fashioned [D]book I have [A]saved all my [E7]ribbons for [A]thee [A]

[D]If I if I have been un[A]kind I [Bm]hope that you can just let it go [A]by [D]If I if I have been un[A]true I [Bm]hope you know it was never to [E7]you [E7]

Like a [A]baby still[E7]born Like a [A]beast [A7]with his [D]horn I have [A]torn every[E7]one who reached [A]out for me [A]

But I [A]swear by this [E7]song And by [A]all that [A7]I have done [D]wrong I will [A]make it [E7]all up to [A]thee [A]

[D]I saw a beggar leaning on his wooden [A]crutch [Bm]He said to me you must not ask for so [A]much [A] [D]And a pretty woman leaning in her darkened [A]door [Bm]She cried to me hey why not ask for [E7]more [E7]

Like a [A]bird on the [E7]wire Like a [A]drunk in a [A7]midnight [D]choir I have [A]tried in my [E7]way to be [D]free [A]

Artist Leonard Cohen
Album Songs from a Room
Genres Pop, Vocal
Year 1989
Key A

How to Play Bird on the Wire on Guitar?

Leonard Cohen - Bird on the Wire can be played in the key of A using the A, E7, A7, D, Bm chords.

  • For A, To play A, press fret 2 on the D string with finger 2, let low E, A, high E ring open, mute G, B.
  • For E7, To play E7, let low E, D, B, high E ring open, mute A, G.
  • For A7, To play A7, let low E, A, G, high E ring open, mute D, B.
  • For D, To play D, press fret 2 on the low E string with finger 2, press fret 2 on the G string with finger 2, press fret 2 on the high E string with finger 2, let A, D ring open, mute B.
  • For Bm, To play Bm, barre fret 2 from the low E string to the A string with finger 1, press fret 2 on the high E string with finger 4, let D, B ring open, mute G.

Barre: Use your index finger to press multiple strings on the same fret, keeping your finger flat.

You can play Bird on the Wire with the ↓-↓↑-↑↓↑ strumming pattern.