Leonard Cohen - First We Take Manhattan Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
[Opening]
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
[verse 2]
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
[chorus]
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
[verse 3]
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
[verse 4]
[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
[chorus]
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
[verse 5]
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
[Closing]
[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
How to play First We Take Manhattan on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Leonard Cohen - First We Take Manhattan on guitar requires 7 chords and 9 core chord transitions. You can find the full step-by-step guide below. Before you start, tune your instrument. The song uses the ↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑ pattern; practice it muted first, or simplify to downstrokes while you learn the changes.
First We Take Manhattan uses these transitions most often: Gm → Dm (18), Dm → Gm (17), and C → Bb (10). These transitions may feel a little challenging at first, but with steady practice you can play this song quickly.When you are ready, begin with Gm - Dm chord transition.
1. Gm → Dm chord transition
To move from Gm to Dm;
- While playing Gm, lift your pinky from E string fret 3.
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to G string fret 2.
- Keep ring finger on B string fret 3.
2. Dm → C chord transition
To move from Dm to C;
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
3. C → Bb chord transition
To move from C to Bb;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger on D string from fret 2 to fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 3.
- Place pinky on B string fret 3.
4. Bb → A chord transition
To move from Bb to A;
- While playing Bb, lift your pinky from B string fret 3.
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 1 and place it on D string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 3 to G string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 2.
5. A → Dm chord transition
To move from A to Dm;
- Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger on B string from fret 2 to fret 3.
6. Dm → F chord transition
To move from Dm to F;
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from B string fret 3 to A string fret 3.
- Place pinky on D string fret 3.
7. F → Gm7 chord transition
To move from F to Gm7;
- While playing F, first lift your index finger and pinky.
- Lift your middle finger from G string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 3.
- Slide your ring finger from A string fret 3 to D string fret 3.
8. Gm7 → C chord transition
To move from Gm7 to C;
- Lift your middle finger from E string fret 3 and place it on D string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from D string fret 3 to A string fret 3.
- Place index finger on B string fret 1.
9. Bb → F chord transition
To move from Bb to F;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 3 to G string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
- Slide your pinky from B string fret 3 to D string fret 3.
First We Take Manhattan chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in First We Take Manhattan.
- First We Take Manhattan includes 83 chord transitions, 9 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- First We Take Manhattan contains 3 of the top 25 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how First We Take Manhattan connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After Dm, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (18%), G (16%), and Am (14%).
- Dm → C: 18%
- Dm → F: 14%
After Gm, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (15%), F (12%), and Dm (10%).- Gm → Dm: 10%