[D] Like a bird on a [A] wire,
Like a [D] drunk in a midnight [G] choir,
I have [D] tried in my [A] way to be [G] free,- [D]

Like a worm on a [a] hook,
Like a [D] knight from an old fashioned [G] book,
I have [D] saved all my [A] ribbons for [G] thee,- [D]

And if I, if I've been un [A] kind,
I hope that you can just let it go [D] by,
And if I, if I've been un [G] true, Lord,
Well I [A] hope you know it was never to [D] you,

Like a babe, still [A] born,
Like a [D] beast with his [G] horn,
I have [D] torn every [A] one who reached out to [G] me,- [D]

But I swear, swear by this [A] song,
I [D] swear by all I've done [G] wrong,
I will [D] make it, I will [A] make it, all up to [G] you.- [D]

I saw a beggar leaning on his [A] crutch,
He said to me "oh, don't ask for so [D] much",
And a pretty woman standing by her darkened [G] door,
She [A] cried out to me " Why not ask for [D] more",

[D] Like a bird on a [A] wire,
Like a [D] drunk in a midnight [G] choir,
I have [D] tried in my [A] way to be [G] free,- [D]

And I've tried, oh I've tried, n you know I've tried,
I have tried, 've tried. Yeah, I've tried. Yes, I've tried
Oh I've tried. In my way,
To be Free.

 

---

 

Bird on the Wire by Leonard Cohen
(from the CD Songs from a Room)

Like a b [A] ird on the w [E] ire, like a dr [D] unk in a midnight ch [A] oir
I have tr [A] ied in my w [E] ay to be free [A] [Asus4] [A]
Like a w [A] orm on a h [E] ook, like a kn [A] ight from some old-fashioned b [D] ook
I have s [A] aved all my r [E] ibbons for thee [Asus4] [A]

[D] If I, if I have been unk [A] ind
[Bm] I hope that you can just let it go [A] or {E} by
[D] If I, if I have been untr [A] ue,
[Bm] or {Bm7}I hope you know it was never to y [E] ou.

Like a baby [A] stillborn, [E] like a [A] beast with his [D] horn
I have [A] torn everyone who [E] reached out for me [Asus4] [A]
But I [A] swear by this [E] song and by [A] i all that I have done [D] wrong
I will [A] make it all up to thee.[Asus4] [A]

[D] I saw a beggar leaning on his [A] wooden crutch
[Bm] He said to me, "You must not ask for so [A] much.
[D] And a pretty woman leaning in her [A] darkened door,
[Bm] She cried to me, "Hey, why not ask [E] for more?"

Like a b [A] ird on the w [E] ire, like a dr [A] unk in a midnight ch [D] oir
I have tr [A] ied in my w [E] ay to be free [D] [A]