Samson In New Orleans

by Leonard Cohen
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Lyrics

You (Db)said that you were with me

you said you were my friend,

did you (Gb)real ly love the cit y

or (Db)did you just pre tend.

You said (Bbm)you loved her se crets

and her free (Db)doms

hid a way,

she was (Ab)bet ter than A me ri ca

that’s what I heard you say.

You said how could this hap pen

you said how can this be,

the rem nant all dis ho nored

on the bridge of mi se ry.

And we who cried for mer cy

from the bot tom of the pit,

was our prayer so damn un wor thy

the Son re jec ted it?

So (F7)ga ther up the (Bbm)kill ers

get (Gb)ev ’ry one in (Db)town,

(F7)stand me by those pil (Bbm)lars

let me (Gb)take this tem ple down.

The (F7)king so (F7)kind and (Bbm)so lemn

he (Gb)wears a blood y crown,

so (F7)stand me by that (Bbm)co lumn let me (Ab)take this tem ple down.

You (Db)said how could this hap pen

you said how can this be,

the (Gb)chains are gone from heav en

the (Db)storms are wild and free.

There’s (Bbm)oth er ways to (Gb)ans wer

that cer tain ly is true,

I’m (Ab)blind with death and an ger

and (Db)that’s no place for you.

There’s a (F7)wom an (F7)in the (Bbm)win dow

and a (Gb)bed in Tin sel (Db)Town,

I’ll (F7)write you (F7)when it’s o (Bbm)ver

let me (Gb)take this tem ple down.

You (F7)said you loved her (Bbm)se crets

her (Gb)free doms hid a way,

she was (F7)bet ter (F7)than A (Bbm)me ri ca that’s (Ab)what I heard you (Db)say.

Samson In New Orleans — Piano Accompaniment Track

2 people have learned this song

Free piano accompaniment for "Samson In New Orleans" by Leonard Cohen. Sing along or play your instrument over the backing piano. Toggle the vocal melody on/off, change key to fit your voice, adjust tempo. Key of Gb, 56 BPM.

Tip: Press play and sing the melody on top of the piano. If the original key (Gb) sits too high or low for your voice, use the transpose control to shift the accompaniment into a comfortable range — the backing moves with you. Need a pitch reference? Tap the mic icon to bring the vocal melody in.

Try other practice modes:

About “Samson In New Orleans”

How do the bar-notation visuals help sing "Samson In New Orleans" with this backing?
Each chord change drops as a colored bar across the staff, scrolling in real time so you can see exactly when the harmony shifts. Helpful for hitting entrances and judging when to breathe — especially on phrases that don't begin on beat 1 of "Samson In New Orleans".
What key is the piano accompaniment for "Samson In New Orleans" by Leonard Cohen in?
The backing track is in Gb at 56 BPM. If that doesn't sit in your vocal range, use the live transpose control to shift up or down semitones — the accompaniment moves with the new key automatically.
Can I sing over "Samson In New Orleans" with this accompaniment?
Yes — that's exactly what it's built for. The vocal melody is muted by default so you can sing freely. Need a pitch reference? Tap the mic icon to bring the melody back in at a lower volume.
Is this a karaoke version of "Samson In New Orleans"?
Effectively yes — it's the piano-only backing for "Samson In New Orleans", with no vocals. You can also slow it down to practice tricky verses, then bring it back to full tempo.
Can I use "Samson In New Orleans" as a backing track for my instrument?
Absolutely. Singers, guitarists, violinists, wind players, and instrumental practice in general all work — the piano holds the harmony so you can carry the melody on whatever instrument you play.
Can I download the accompaniment for "Samson In New Orleans"?
Yes — registered users can download MIDI + MusicXML (open in any notation software). PDF sheet music is also available for the full arrangement.
Who wrote "Samson In New Orleans"?
"Samson In New Orleans" was originally performed by Leonard Cohen. This piano accompaniment is an arrangement of that song, designed for sing-along and play-along use.
What other backing tracks by Leonard Cohen are available?
Other accompaniments by Leonard Cohen: "Almost Like The Blues", "Anthem", "Bird On A Wire". Same toggle-the-melody, change-the-key setup.
How do I use "Samson In New Orleans" as a backing track?
Just press play — the piano accompaniment runs from start to end, no vocals. Sing, hum, or play your own instrument over it. Use the mic icon to add a vocal melody as a pitch reference, and the speed control if you want a slower practice tempo.
Can I change the key of "Samson In New Orleans" to fit my voice?
Yes — the original is in Gb, but the player has a live transpose control so you can shift up or down semitones until the melody sits in your vocal range. The piano accompaniment moves with the new key automatically.

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