Songs From A Room

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------                                              Leonard Cohen                                            Songs from a Room ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Leonard Cohen’s second studio album Release date: April 7 1969 Studio: Columbia Studio A Nashville -- Track listing -- 1. Bird on the Wire 2. Story of Isaac 3. A Bunch of Lonesome Heroes 4. The Partisan 5. Seems So Long Ago Nancy 6. The Old Revolution 7. The Butcher 8. You Know Who I Am 9. Lady Midnight 10. Tonight Will Be Fine --------------------------- 1. Bird on the Wire  -------------------------- Tuning: Standard Songwriters: Leonard Cohen [Verse 1] 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                   [Chorus] 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          [Verse 3] 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                  [Chorus] 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 ------------------------------- 2. Story of Isaac       ------------------------------     Tuning: Standard        Songwriters: Leonard Cohen                   Specific chord voicings: E7 022130 C* 032013 [Intro] | | % | %  | % | | | % | [Verse 1] The door it opened slowly My father he came in I was nine years old. And he stood so tall above me His blue eyes they were shining And his voice was very cold. [Chorus] He said "I’ve had a vision And you know I’m strong and holy I must do what I’ve been told." So he started up the mountain I was running he was walking And his axe was made of gold. [Verse 2] Well the trees they got much smaller The lake a lady’s mirror We stopped to drink some wine. Then he threw the bottle over. Broke a minute later And he put his hand on mine. [Chorus] Thought I saw an eagle But it might have been a vulture I never could decide. Then my father built an altar He looked once behind his shoulder He knew I would not hide.   [Verse 3] You who build these altars now To sacrifice these children You must not do it anymore. A scheme is not a vision And you never have been tempted By a demon or a god. [Chorus] You who stand above them now Your hatchets blunt and bloody You were not there before When I lay upon the mountain And my father’s hand was trembling With the beauty of the word. [Verse 4] And if you call me brother now Forgive me if I inquire "just according to whose plan?" When it all comes down to dust I will kill you if I must I will help you if I can. [Chorus] When it all comes down to dust I will help you if I must I will kill you if I can. And mercy on our uniform Man of peace or man of war The peacock spreads his fan. ------------------------------- 3. A Bunch of Lonesome Heroes ------------------------------     Tuning: Standard        Songwriters: Leonard Cohen                   [Verse 1] A bunch of lonesome and very quarrelsome heroes Were smoking out along the open road;                       The night was very dark and thick between them             Each man beneath his ordinary load.               [Chorus] "I’d like to tell my story " Said one of them so young and bold "I’d like to tell my story    Before I turn into gold." [Verse 2] But no one really could hear him              The night so dark and thick and green;                      Well I guess that these heroes must always live there             Where you and I have only been.                       [Chorus] Put out your cigarette my love   You’ve been alone too long; And some of us are very hungry now   To hear what it is you’ve done that was so wrong.      [Verse 3] I sing this for the crickets             I sing this for the army                        I sing this for your children               And for all who do not need me.                       [Chorus] "I’d like to tell my story "     Said one of them so bold "Oh yes I’d like to tell my story    ’Cause you know I feel I’m turning into gold." ------------------------------- 4. The Partisan                             ------------------------------                             Tuning: Standard                                            Songwriters: Emmanuel d’Astier de la Vigerie & Anna Marly [Intro] | | % | %  | % | [Verse 1] When they poured across the border I was cautioned to surrender This I could not do I took my gun and vanished.    I have changed my name so often I’ve lost my wife and children But I have many friends And some of them are with me     [Verse 2] An old woman gave us shelter Kept us hidden in the garret Then the soldiers came She died without a whisper     There were three of us this morning I’m the only one this evening But I must go on The frontiers are my prison     [Chorus] Oh the wind the wind is blowing Through the graves the wind is blowing Freedom soon will come Then we’ll come from the shadows     [Verse 1] Les Allemands étaient chez moi Ils me dirent "résigne toi" Mais je n’ai pas peur J’ai repris mon âme âme âme J’ai changé cent fois de nom J’ai perdu femme et enfants Mais j’ai tant d’amis J’ai la France entière entière entière [Verse 2] Un vieil homme dans un grenier Pour la nuit nous a caché Les Allemands l’ont pris Il est mort sans surprise [Chorus] Oh the wind the wind is blowing Through the graves the wind is blowing Freedom soon will come Then we’ll come from the shadows     ------------------------------- 5. Seems So Long Ago Nancy    ------------------------------      Tuning: Standard               Songwriters: Leonard Cohen Specific chord voicings: Dmaj7  x57675 C#m7   x46454 E7    022130 [Intro] | | % | %  | % | [Verse 1] It seems so long ago Nancy  was  alone Looking at the Late Late show Through a semi-precious stone. [Chorus] In the House of Honesty Her father was on trial In the House of Mystery There was no one at all There was no one at all. [Verse 2] It seems so long ago None of us were strong Nancy wore green stockings And she slept with everyone. [Chorus] She never said she’d wait for us Although she was alone I think she fell in love for us In nineteen sixty one In nineteen sixty one. [Verse 3] It seems so long ago Nancy was alone A forty five beside her head An open telephone. [Chorus] We told her she was beautiful We told her she was free But none of us would meet her in The House of Mystery The House of Mystery. [Verse 4] And now you look around you See her everywhere Many use her body Many comb her hair. [Chorus] In the hollow of the night When you are cold and numb You hear her talking freely then She’s happy that you’ve come She’s happy that you’ve come. [Outro] | | | | --------------------------- 6. The Old Revolution -------------------------- Tuning: Standard Songwriters: Leonard Cohen [Verse 1] I finally broke into the prison I found my place in the chain. Even damnation is poisoned with rainbows All the brave young men They’re waiting now to see a signal Which some killer will be lighting for pay. [Chorus] Into this furnace I ask you now to venture You whom I cannot betray. [Verse 2] I fought in the old revolution On the side of the ghost and the King. Of course I was very young And I thought that we were winning; I can’t pretend I still feel very much like singing As they carry the bodies away. [Chorus] Into this furnace I ask you now to venture You whom I cannot betray. [Verse 3] Lately you’ve started to stutter As though you had nothing to say.   To all of my architects let me be traitor. Now let me say I myself gave the order To sleep and to search and to destroy. [Chorus] Into this furnace I ask you now to venture You whom I cannot betray. [Verse 4] Yes you who are broken by power You who are absent all day You who are kings for the sake of your children’s story The hand of your beggar is burdened down with money The hand of your lover is clay. [Chorus] Into this furnace I ask you now to venture You whom I cannot betray. ------------------------------- 7. The Butcher    ------------------------------ Tuning: Standard   Songwriters: Leonard Cohen [Intro] | | % | %  | % | [Verse 1] I came upon a butcher He was slaughtering a lamb I accused him there With his tortured lamb. He said "Listen to me child I am what I am And you you are my only son." [Verse 2] Well I found a silver needle I put it into my arm. It did some good Did some harm. But the nights were cold And it almost kept me warm How come the night is long? [Verse 3] I saw some flowers growing up Where that lamb fell down; Was I supposed to praise my Lord Make some kind of joyful sound? He said "Listen listen to me now I go round and round And you you are my only child." [Verse 4] Do not leave me now Do not leave me now I’m broken down From a recent fall. Blood upon my body And ice upon my soul Lead on my son ’tis your world. ------------------------------- 8. You Know Who I Am    -------------------------------     Tuning: Standard        Songwriters: Leonard Cohen                   [Intro] | Asus2 | Asus4 |   Asus2 | | | Asus2 | Asus4 |   Asus2 | | | Asus2 | Asus4 |   Asus2 | | | Asus2 | Asus4 |   Asus2 | | [Verse 1] I cannot follow you my love You cannot follow me. I am the distance you put between          All of the moments that we will be.    [Chorus] You know who I am         You’ve stared at the sun         Well I am the one who loves Changing from nothing to one.        [Interlude] | Asus2 | Asus4 |   Asus2 | | | Asus2 | Asus4 |   Asus2 | | [Verse 2] Sometimes I need you naked Sometimes I need you wild I need you to carry my children in       And I need you to kill a child.    [Chorus] You know who I am          You’ve stared at the sun         Well I am the one who loves Changing from nothing to one.        [Interlude] | Asus2 | Asus4 |   Asus2 | | | Asus2 | Asus4 |   Asus2 | | [Verse 3] If you should ever track me down I will surrender there And I will leave with you one broken man Whom I will teach you to repair.         [Chorus] You know who I am          You’ve stared at the sun         Well I am the one who loves Changing from nothing to one.        [Interlude] | Asus2 | Asus4 |   Asus2 | | | Asus2 | Asus4 |   Asus2 | | [Verse 1] I cannot follow you my love You cannot follow me. I am the distance you put between          All of the moments that we will be.    [Chorus] You know who I am         You’ve stared at the sun         Well I am the one who loves Changing from nothing to one.        [Outro] | Asus2 | Asus4 |   Asus2 | | | Dsus4 | Dm Dsus2 | Dm  Dsus2 | | Dsus4 | Dsus2 |   Dsus2 | | ------------------------------- 8. Lady Midnight             ------------------------------- Tuning: Standard    Songwriters: Leonard Cohen           Specific chord voicings: C      X32013 Fadd9  103213 [Intro] | | % | %  | % | [Verse 1]     G                 Fadd9          C I came by myself to a very crowded place;         G                          Fadd9        C I was looking for someone who had lines in her face. I found her there but she was past all concern; I asked her to hold me I said "Lady unfold me " But she scorned me and she told me I was dead and I could never return. [Verse 2] Well I argued all night like so many have before Saying "Whatever you give me I seem to need so much more." Then she pointed at me where I kneeled on her floor She said "Don’t try to use me or slyly refuse me Just win me or lose me It is this that the darkness is for." [Chorus] I cried "Oh Lady Midnight I fear that you grow old The stars eat your body and the wind makes you cold." "If we cry now " she said "it will just be ignored." So I walked through the morning sweet early morning I could hear my lady calling "You’ve won me you’ve won me my lord You’ve won me you’ve won me my lord Yes you’ve won me you’ve won me my lord Ah you’ve won me you’ve won me my lord Ah you’ve won me you’ve won me my lord." ------------------------------- 10. Tonight Will Be Fine     ------------------------------- Tuning: Standard    Songwriters: Leonard Cohen           [Verse 1] Sometimes I find I get to thinking of the past We swore to each other then that our love would surely last You kept right on loving I went on a fast Now I am too thin and your love is too vast [Chorus] But I know from your eyes And I know from your smile That tonight will be fine will be fine will be fine Will be fine for a while [Verse 2] I choose the rooms that I live in with care The windows are small and the walls almost bare There’s only one bed and there’s only one prayer I listen all night for your step on the stair [Chorus] But I know from your eyes And I know from your smile That tonight will be fine will be fine will be fine Will be fine for a while [Verse 3] Oh sometimes I see her undressing for me She’s the soft naked lady love meant her to be And she’s moving her body so brave and so free If I’ve got to remember that’s a fine memory [Chorus] But I know from your eyes And I know from your smile That tonight will be fine will be fine will be fine Will be fine for a while