ROLFLEONARD COHEN Songs From A Room Songs der gleichnamigen Langspielplatte CBS S 63587 Inhalt Seite Bird On The Wire 3 Story Of Isaac 6 A Bunch Of Lonesome Heroes 9 Seems So Long Ago, Nancy 12 The Old Revolution 14 The Butcher 17 Lady Midnight 18 You Know Who | Am 20 Tonight Will Be Fine 23 ROLF BUDDE MUSIKVERLAG -: BERLINSONGS OF LEONARD COHEN The guitar accompaniment for each song is clearly illustrated in easy to read tablature. The tablature system is based on a combination of the French and English systems. Each of the six lines in the tablature staff represents a corresponding guitar string, Tablature Guitar Strings SS Arabic numbers appearing on the tablature lines indicate various fretting positions for the left hand. For example, an “o" on the top line of the tablature staff indicates that you Play the highest sounding string unfingered by the left hand. J _ ° ‘A“1" on the top line Indicates that you play the highest soun Ist fret: highest sounding lowest sounding ring fingered at the ! ‘An entire C chord looks like this in.tablature: == ~ FE Chord boxes above the music pictorially illustrate the left hand fingering. DoD Chord. not play the strings indicated by broken lines when you strum the chord. In this aa] D chord you would not piay the lowest sounding string. + ‘The abbreviations /, m, and r are used to indicate the index, middle, and ring fingers of the right hand. Notes with their stems pointing down are to be played with the right hand thumb. For note readers, the guitar accompaniment for the song Hey, That's No Way To Say Goodbye is notated in tablature as well as the corresponding musi¢ notes. This clearly ilus trates the transference of music notes into tablature,BIRD ON THE WIRE HA Leonard Cohen Quickly Tt % OA Melody Like a bird worm Guitar like a drunk in a— mid-night— hook, — like a knight fromsome_ old fash - ioned = © 1968, 1969 by Stranger Music, Inc., New York, N.Y. Flr Deutschland, Ostezreich, dle Schweiz und Holland; Rolf Budde Musikeerlag, Berlin Alle Rechte vorbehalten All right reserved Tous droits xéservé RD 1857my E 8rd verseto Coda Asus have beenun - kind, have beenun - true, eis = 5 = = Petty I hope that I hope you RB 1857know it Se oo you can just let it_ go by; was ne-ver. to ee Like a bird on the wire Like a drunk in a midnight choir Thave tried in my way to be free Like a worm on a hook Like a knight from some old-fashioned book Thave saved all my ribbons for thee If Thave been unkind T hope that you can just let it go by If Thave been untrue, Thope you know it was never to you. Like a baby stillborn Like a beast with his horn Thave torn everyone who reached out for me But I swear by this song ‘And by all that I have done wrong Iwill make it all up to thee. 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?" | RB 1867Leonard Cohen Moderately Melody Guitar Am ™ door it o-penedslow-ly, he came in, fa - ther Andhe stoodso tall a-bove me, © 1967, 1969 by Stranger Muse, Inc., New York, N.Y. Pr Deutschland, Usterzeich, die Schweiz und Holland: Rolf Budde Musikverlog, Berlin Alle Rechte vorbehalten, All rights reserved Tous droits réservés BB 1856blue eyes theywere shin - ing and his voice was ver-y cold; ee ——_ 7 cee - = Said, "I've had a vi- sion and you knowI'm strong. and —_—ho-ly, T must So he start-ed EB 1806The door it opened slowly My father he came in Iwas nine years old And he stood go tall above me Blue eyes they were shining And his voice was very cold. 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 Iwas running he was walking And his ax was made of gold. 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. Thought T 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. You who build the altars now To sacrifice these children You must not do it any more. A scheme is not a vision And you never have been tempted | By a demon or a god. ‘You who stand above them now Your hatchets blunt and bloody, You were not there before. When T lay upon a mountain And my father's hand was trembling With the beauty of the word. 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 T must Iwill help you if I can. When it all comes down to dust T will help you if I must I will kill you if T'can, And merey on our uniform Man of peace or man of war — The peacock spreads his fan. RD 1856A BUNCH OF LONESOME HEROES aa. vavav vaya yvavayavay Accomasniment Pattern Quickly A A Leonard Cohen A ‘A bunch of lone-some and ver- y quar- vel-some “Tne X's onthe staff indicate thatthe words are to be spoken rather than sung. , + : t ' ET Oy 1 HH The night was ve- Bm E dark and thick be- tweenthem, each man be rd "0" scones +A two bar ehythmie pase with beats" © 1969 by Stranger Musio, Inc, New York, N. ¥. Fir Deutstiland, Osterreich, die Schvteiz und Holland: Rolf Budde Mustkverlag, Berlin, Alle Rechte vorbchalten Al rights reserved ‘Tous droits réservés he-roes were smok-ing out a- long the o-pen ry RB 185910 neath his or-di-nar-y load; rt + + Bm D ae AMaj.7 gis —— i ot oe = é ob "I'd like to tell my — sto- ry," said one of them so young__ and_— bold "I'd like totell my sto - ry be- fore I wn ——_in-to_gold; RB 1855,A BUNCH OF LONESOME HEROES ‘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. "I'd like to tell my story," Said one of them so young and bold; "Y'd like to tell my story, Before I turn to gold." 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. 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. 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. "I'd like to tell my story,” Said one of them so bold; I'd like to tell my story "cause you know I feel I'm turning into gold. RB 1855 u12 SEEMS SO LONG AGO, NANCY ze Leonard Cohen Quickly Bm Me Hi It seems so long—— *2- a go Nan-cy was— a - lone look-ing at The r Late LateShow througha _sem- i-pre-cious stone; In the House of Hf r +t Coed SH Gad +2 i f ar it ft Fim Hon-es-ty her fa-ther was on trial; In the House of © 1969 by Stranger Music, Inc, New York, N. ¥. For Deutschland, Osterteich, die Schweiz und Holland: Rolf Budde Mustkverlag, Berlin Alle Rechte vorbehalten, Al rights reserved ‘Tous droits réservés RB 1854there was ce no one was no one at all. It seems so long ago ‘Nancy was alone Looking at The Late Late Show through a semi-precious stone. 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. It seems so long ago none of us were strong Naney wore green stockings and she slept with everyone. 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. RB 1854 at all, It seems so long ago Nancy was alone A forty-five beside her head ‘an open telephone. 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. And now you look around you see her everywhere Many use her body many comb her hair. And 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. 13 there It14 THE OLD REVOLUTION Leonard Cohen ‘Accompaniment Pattern Quickly I fi - nal-ly broke. in - to pris - on,— I found my place in the © 1909 by Stranger Music, Inc, New York, N. ¥. Flr Deutschland, Osterreich, die Schweiz und Holland: Rolf Budde Musikverlag, Berlin ‘Alle Rechte vorbehalten All rights reserved Tous droits réservés RB 1853,poi- soned— ms with rain-bows; All thebrave young 16 they're wait-ing now which some kill-er. tosee a sig - Fe will be light-ing for pay; ask you now can- not. In-to this to ven - ture,— be - tray. RB 1858, fur-nace I you whom 116 THE OLD REVOLUTION I finally broke into 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 Into this furnace I ask you now to venture ‘You whom I cannot betray. 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. Into this furnace I ask you now to venture ‘You whom I cannot betray. 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. Into this furnace I ask you now to venture ‘You whom I cannot betray. ‘You who are broken by power ‘You who are absent all day ‘You who are kings for the sake of your childrens’ story The hand of your beggar is burdened down with money The hand of your lover is clay. Into this furnace I ask you now to venture ‘You whom I cannot betray. RB 1853W7 THE BUTCHER Very slow Leonard Cohen butch-er, he was—_ slaugh-ter-ing a lamb; E BT ——F Tac-cused him there with his $= === He said, " Lis-ten tor-tured lamb; I am— what I am; — And you, you are my on-ly son.” Well, T 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 Igo round and round, And you, you are my only child." I came upon a butcher He was slaughtering a lamb Taccused him there With his tortured lamb He said "Listen to me, child Tam what Iam And you, you are my only son." Well, I found a silver needle Do not leave me now, I put it into my arm It did some good Did some harm. 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, it is your world. But the nights were cold And it almost kept me warm How some the night is long? © 1909 by Stranger Music, Inc, New York, N. ¥. Fir Deutschland, Usterreich, die Schweiz und Holland: Rolf Budde Musikveriag, Berlin Alle Rechte vorbehalten All rights re Tous droits réservés kp 185218 Leonard Cohen Accompaniment Patarn Quickly self to a ver-y crowd - ed place; came by my - I was look-ing for some-one whohad lines_ in her face; C7 F but she was past all_ con - cern; © 1968, 1969 by Stranger Music, Inc, New York, N.Y. Flr Deutschland, Usterreich, die Schweiz und Holland: Rolf Budde Musikverlag, Berlin I I found her there asked her to Alle Rechte vorbehelten All rights reserved Tous droite réservés RB 185119 hold me, said, "La-dy, un fold me." Butshe scorned me, and she told me Iwas dead and I could nev-er re - turn, Well, I won me, you've won me, my lord; " You've G oT c won me,— you've won me,— my lord;" " Yes, you've 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 dust win me or lose me, it is this that the darkness is for." Leried, "Oh, Lady Midnight, I fear that you grow old, 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, the sweet early morning T could hear my lady calling, "You've won me, you've won me, my lor "You've won me, you've won me, my lord;"* "Yes, you've won me, you've won me, my lord. RB 185120 Loonard Cohen Quickly FT Melody Guitar you, my love,— te SS 7 you can - notfol - low me; © 1967, 1969 by Stranger Music, Inc., New York, N.Y. Fr Deutschland, Osterseich, die Schweiz und Holland: Rolf Budde Musikverlag, Bertin Alle Rechte vorbehalten, All rights reserved Tous drols réservés RB 1850a —— = Tam the dis - tance you put be-tween all of the 6 Maj. < = ————— — — ft ¢ # oe y f f= SS mo - ments that we will RB 18502 CODA G GMaj.7 E chang-ing from noth-ing to one. I cannot follow you my love You cannot follow me Tam 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 Iam the one who loves Changing from nothing to one. Sometimes I need you naked Sometimes I need you wild Ineed you to carry my children in ‘And I need you to kill a child. Chorus RB 1880 Hf you should ever track me down I will surrender there And I'll leave with you one broken man Whom I'll teach you to repair. Chorus I cannot follow you my love You cannot follow me Tam the distance you put between All of the moments that we will be. Chorus (and Coda)23 TONIGHT WILL BE FINE Leonard Cohen Quickly FHF Melody Guitar = € “Tune the 6h string lowes sounding clown 1. © 1967, 1969 by Stranger Music, Inc., New York, N. ¥. Far Deutschland, Osterreich, die Schweiz und Holland: Roll Budde Musikverlag, Berlin Alle Rechte vorbehalten All rights reserved Tous droite éserrée RB 184924 love would I went on a fast; Now i RB 18492% from your smile_ RB 184926 RB 18497 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 T went on a fast Now Iam too thin And your love is too vast. Chorus (After each verse) 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. BB 1849 I choose the rooms That I live in with care, ‘The windows are small And the walls must be bare There's only one bed And there's only one prayer ‘And I listen all night For your step on the stair. 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.