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Leonard Cohen - First We Take Manhattan Chords

Chord reference Gm, Dm, C, Bb, A, Gm7
Rhythm tips ↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

They [Gm]sentenced me to twenty years of [Dm]boredom For [Gm]trying to change the system from [Dm]within I’m [Gm]coming now I’m coming to [Dm]reward them [C]First we take Man[Bb]hattan [A]then we take Berl[Dm]in

I’m [Gm]guided by a signal in the [Dm]heavens I’m [Gm]guided by this birthmark [Dm]on my skin I’m [Gm]guided by the beauty of our [Dm]weapons [C]First we take Man[Bb]hattan [A]then we take Berl[Dm]in

I’d [F]really like to [Gm7]live beside you [C]baby [Bb] I love your [F]body and your spirit and your [Dm]clothes But you [F]see that line there moving through the [Dm]station I [C]told you I [Bb]told you I [A]told you I was one of [Dm]those

You [Gm]loved me as a loser but now you’re [Dm]worried that I just might win You [Gm]know the way to stop me but you [Dm]don’t have the discipline How [Gm]many nights I prayed for this: to [Dm]let my work begin [C]First we take Man[Bb]hattan [A]then we take Berl[Dm]in

[Gm]I don’t like your fashion business, [Dm]mister [Gm]I don’t like these drugs that [Dm]keep you thin [Gm]I don’t like what happened to my [Dm]sister [C]First we take Man[Bb]hattan [A]then we take Berl[Dm]in

I’d [F]really like to [Gm7]live beside you [C]baby [Bb] I love your [F]body and your spirit and your [Dm]clothes But you [F]see that line there moving through the [Dm]station I [C]told you I [Bb]told you I [A]told you I was one of [Dm]those

And I [Gm]thank you for those items that you [Dm]sent me The [Gm]monkey and the plywood [Dm]violin I [Gm]practised every night and now I’m [Dm]ready [C]First we take Man[Bb]hattan [A]then we take Berl[Dm]in

[Gm]Remember me, I used to live for [Dm]music [Gm]Remember me, I brought your [Dm]groceries in It’s [Gm]Father’s Day and everybody’s [Dm]wounded [C]First we take Man[Bb]hattan [A]then we take Berl[Dm]in

Artist Leonard Cohen
Album I'm Your Man
Genres Pop
Year 1988
Key Gm

How to Play First We Take Manhattan on Guitar?

Leonard Cohen - First We Take Manhattan can be played in the key of Gm using the Gm, Dm, C, Bb, A, Gm7 chords.

  • For Gm, To play Gm, press fret 3 on the low E string with finger 3, press fret 1 on the A string with finger 2, press fret 3 on the B string with finger 3, press fret 3 on the high E string with finger 3, let D, G ring open.
  • For Dm, To play Dm, press fret 1 on the low E string with finger 2, press fret 1 on the high E string with finger 2, let A, D ring open, mute G, B.
  • For C, To play C, press fret 1 on the B string with finger 2, let low E, G, high E ring open, mute A, D.
  • For Bb, To play A# | Bb, barre fret 1 from the low E string to the A string with finger 1, press fret 1 on the high E string with finger 4, let D ring open, mute G, B.
  • 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 Gm7, To play Gm7, barre fret 1 from the low E string to the A string with finger 1, press fret 1 on the high E string with finger 4, let D, G ring open, mute B.

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

You can play First We Take Manhattan with the ↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑ strumming pattern.