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


[Verse 1]
             
Like a bird on

             
 the wire, lik

             
e a drunk in a

            
 midnight choi

r
             
I have tried i

             
n my way to be

         
 free
             
Like a worm on

             
 a hook, like 

             
a knight from 

              
some old-fashi

      
oned book
             
I have saved a

             
ll my ribbons 

           
for thee
             
         If I,

              
 if I have bee

     
n unkind
            
         I hop

              
e that you can

              
 just let it g

   
o by
             
         If I,

              
 if I have bee

      
n untrue,
            
         I hop

              
e you know it 

              
was never to y

      
ou.


[Verse 2] 
             
Like a baby st

             
illborn, like 

             
a beast with h

     
is horn
             
I have torn ev

             
eryone who rea

             
ched out for m

     
e.
             
But I swear by

             
 this song and

             
 by all that I

              
 have done wro


ng
             
 I will make i

            
t all up to th

     
ee.
             
         I saw

              
 a beggar lean

              
ing on his woo

     
den crutch
            
         He sa

              
id to me, "You

              
 must not ask 

    
for so much."
             
         And a

              
 pretty woman 

              
leaning in her

           
 darkened door

,
            
         She c

              
ried to me, "H

              
ey, why not as

          
k for more?"


[Outro]
             
Like a bird on

             
 the wire, lik

             
e a drunk in a

            
 midnight choi

r
             
I have tried i

             
n my way to be

    
 free