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Artist: Leonard Cohen
Track: Bird on the Wire

Lyrics
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

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

Oh, 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

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
Full Lyrics and Meaning
Genius Lyrics
Leonard Cohen – Bird on the Wire
This is the opening song to 1969’s Songs from a Room. It’s a kind of Cohen’s own “My Way.” Country musician Kris Kristofferson has stated he wants the first three lines on his
Leonard Cohen – Bird on a Wire (Live in Paris)
[Intro] / Comme l'oiseau sur la branche / Comme l'ivrogne dans le choeur de la nuit / J'ai cherche ma liberte / [Verse 1] / Like a bird on the wire / Like a drunk in some midnight
Leonard Cohen – Bird on the Wire (Live in Glasgow)
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 penned down in some old fashioned book / It
Leonard Cohen – Bird on the Wire (Live in Dublin)
Like a bird on a wire / Like a drunk in some old midnight choir / I have tried in my way to be free / Like a worm on the hook / Like a knight bent down in some old-fashioned book
Leonard Cohen – Bird on the Wire (Live in London)
Like a bird on a wire / Like a drunk in a midnight choir / I have tried in my way to be free / Like a worm on the hook / Like a knight from some old-fashioned book / I have saved
Leonard Cohen – Bird on a Wire (Live in Toronto)
Like a bird on the wire / Like a drunk in an old midnight choir / I have tried in my way to be free / Like a worm on a hook / Like a knight bent down in some old-fashioned book
Adam Cohen – Bird On A Wire
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
Leonard Cohen – Bird on the Wire Samples
See all of “Bird on the Wire” by Leonard Cohen’s samples, covers, remixes, interpolations and live versions
The Neville Brothers – Bird on a Wire
Like a bird on a wire / Like a drunk in a midnight choir / I have tried in my way to be free / Like a fish on a hook / Like a knight from some old fashioned book / I have saved all
Leonard Cohen – Bird on the Wire Live Versions
See all of “Bird on the Wire” by Leonard Cohen’s live versions
Leonard Cohen – Bird on the Wire Covers
See all of “Bird on the Wire” by Leonard Cohen’s covers
Leonard Cohen – Bird on the Wire (Live at the Isle of Wight)
Like a bird on a wire / Like a drunk in a midnight choir / I have tried in my way to be free / Like a worm on the hook / Like a knight from some old-fashioned book / I have saved
Leonard Cohen – Like a Bird (Bird on the Wire)
Like a bird on a wire / Like a drunk in a midnight choir / I have tried in my way to be free / Like a worm on the hook / Like a knight from some old-fashioned book / I have saved
Johnny Cash – Bird on a Wire
Cover of the Leonard Cohen song.
Tim Hardin – Bird On The Wire
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
Jennifer Warnes – Bird on a Wire
Like a bird on the wire / Like a drunk in a midnight choir / I have tried in my way to be free / Like a fish on a hook / Like a knight from an old fashioned book / I have saved all
Leonard Cohen – Bird on the Wire (Tour of 1979)
Like a bird on the wire / Like a drunk in some old midnight choir / I have tried in my way to be free / Like a worm on a hook / Like a monk bending over the book / It was the shape
​k.d. lang – Bird on a Wire
[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
Simone Istwa – Bird on a Wire
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
Joe Bonamassa – Bird on a Wire
Like a bird on a wire / Like a drunk in a midnight choir / I have tried in my way to be free / Like a fish on a hook / Like a knight from an old fashioned book / I have saved all
Katey Sagal (Ft. The Forest Rangers) – Bird on a Wire
Like a bird on a wire / Like a drunk in a midnight choir / I have tried in my way to be free / Like a fish on a hook / Like a knight from an old fashioned book / I have saved all
Leonard Cohen – Like a Bird (Bird on the Wire) Covers
See all of “Like a Bird (Bird on the Wire)” by Leonard Cohen’s covers
Jackie DeShannon – Bird on the Wire
[Verse 1] / Like a bird on the wire / Like a drunk in a midnight choir / I have tried in my way to be free / [Verse 2] / Like a worm on a hook / Like a knight from some old-
Kind of Like Spitting – Bird On A Wire
[Originally by Leonard Cohen] / Like a bird on a wire, like a drunk at a midnight choir, I have tried in my way to be free. Like a fish on a hook, like a knight from some old
Jimmy Barnes (Ft. Troy Cassar-Daley) – Bird on a Wire
Like a bird on a wire / Like a drunk in a midnight choir / I have tried in my way to be free / Like a fish on a hook / Like a line in some old fashion book / I have saved all my
Jack Savoretti – Bird on the Wire
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
Leonard Cohen – Like a Bird (Bird on the Wire) Samples
See all of “Like a Bird (Bird on the Wire)” by Leonard Cohen’s samples, covers, remixes, interpolations and live versions
Judy Collins – Bird on the Wire
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 the hook / Like a knight in old fashioned book / I have saved all my
Tedeschi Trucks Band – Bird On The Wire (Live)
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
Joe Cocker – Bird on the Wire
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
Stina Nordenstam – Bird On The Wire
Like a bird on the wire / Like a drunk in a midnight choir / I've tried in my way to be free / Like a worm on a hook / Like a knight from some old fashioned book / I've saved all
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AZ Lyrics
Leonard Cohen - Bird On The Wire Lyrics
Leonard Cohen Lyrics ... I have tried in my way to be free. ... I have saved all my ribbons for thee. If I, if I have been unkind, I hope that you can just let it ...
MusixMatch Lyrics
Leonard Cohen - Bird on the Wire - Live in Dublin Lyrics
Lyrics for Bird on the Wire - Live in Dublin by Leonard Cohen. Like a bird on a wire I have tried in my way to be free Like a worm on the like a knight f...
Leonard Cohen - Bird on the Wire Lyrics
Lyrics for Bird on the Wire by Leonard Cohen. Like a bird on the wire Like a drunk in a midnight choir I have tried, in my way, to be fr...
Leonard Cohen - Bird On the Wire - Live Lyrics
Lyrics for Bird On the Wire - Live by Leonard Cohen. Like a bird on a wire Like a drunk in some midnight choir I have tried in my way to be fre...
Leonard Cohen - Bird on the Wire translation in French
French translation of lyrics for Bird on the Wire by Leonard Cohen. Like a bird on the wire Like a drunk in a midnight choir I have tried, in my way, to be fr...
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Genius Q&A
Q:When did Leonard Cohen release “Bird on the Wire”?
Leonard Cohen released “Bird on the Wire” on April 7, 1969.
Q:Who wrote “Bird on the Wire (Live in Glasgow)” by Leonard Cohen?
“Bird on the Wire (Live in Glasgow)” by Leonard Cohen was written by Leonard Cohen.
Q:When did Leonard Cohen release “Bird on a Wire (Live in Toronto)”?
Leonard Cohen released “Bird on a Wire (Live in Toronto)” on June 28, 1994.
Q:Who wrote “Like a Bird (Bird on the Wire)” by Leonard Cohen?
“Like a Bird (Bird on the Wire)” by Leonard Cohen was written by Leonard Cohen.
Q:When did Leonard Cohen release “Bird on the Wire (Live at the Isle of Wight)”?
Leonard Cohen released “Bird on the Wire (Live at the Isle of Wight)” on October 20, 2009.
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Genius Albums
Songs from a Room by Leonard Cohen
Get all the lyrics to songs on Songs from a Room and join the Genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics.
Songs from the Road by Leonard Cohen
Get all the lyrics to songs on Songs from the Road and join the Genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics.
Live in Dublin by Leonard Cohen
Get all the lyrics to songs on Live in Dublin and join the Genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics.
The Best of Leonard Cohen by Leonard Cohen
Get all the lyrics to songs on The Best of Leonard Cohen and join the Genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics.
Hallelujah & Songs from His Albums by Leonard Cohen
Get all the lyrics to songs on Hallelujah & Songs from His Albums and join the Genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics.
Judy Collins Sings Leonard Cohen: Democracy by Judy Collins
Get all the lyrics to songs on Judy Collins Sings Leonard Cohen: Democracy and join the Genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics.
Live at the Isle of Wight 1970 by Leonard Cohen
Get all the lyrics to songs on Live at the Isle of Wight 1970 and join the Genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics.
The Essential Leonard Cohen by Leonard Cohen
Get all the lyrics to songs on The Essential Leonard Cohen and join the Genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics.
Cohen Live by Leonard Cohen
Get all the lyrics to songs on Cohen Live and join the Genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics.
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