Like a (D)bird
on a (A)wire,
like a (D)drunk in from some mid night (G)choir,
I have (D)tried
in my (A)way
to be (D)free.
Like a (D)worm
on a (A)hook,
like a (D)knight in from some old ioned (G)book,
I have (D)saved
all my (A)rib
bons for (D)thee.
Like a
If I, if I have been un (D)kind,
I hope that you can just let it go (D)by.
If I,
if I have been un (D)true,
I hope you know it was nev er to (A)you.
More like a (D)ba by still (A)born,
like a (D)beast
with his (G)horn,
I have (D)torn
ev ’ry (A)one who reached out for (D)me.
But I (D)swear
by this (A)song,
and by (D)all that I have done (G)wrong,
I will make it (A)all
up to (D)thee.
I saw a beg gar lean ing on his wood en (D)crutch.
He said to me, “You must not ask for (D)so much.”
And a pret ty wom an lean ing in her dark ened (D)door,
she cried to me, “Hey, why not ask for (A)more?”
More like a (D)bird
on the (A)wi re, like a (D)drunk in a mid night (G)choir,
I have (D)tried
in my (A)way
to be (G)free.
Bird On The Wire by Leonard Cohen
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Easy piano arrangement in the key of D at 95 BPM. Difficulty: easy. Color-coded notes — no sheet-reading skill required.
Learn how to accompany it· the chords and what each hand plays, on Super Simple Chords ↗About “Bird On The Wire”
- What key is "Bird On The Wire" in?
- "Bird On The Wire" by Leonard Cohen is in the key of D with a tempo of 95 BPM. Difficulty: easy.
- Is "Bird On The Wire" easy to play on piano?
- Yes — this arrangement is rated easy, meaning it uses simple chord patterns and a manageable tempo. Most beginners can play through it in 1-3 practice sessions using our color-coded notes.
- Can I play "Bird On The Wire" without reading sheet music?
- Yes. Our player offers a falling-notes mode (Synthesia-style) and a beginner mode with color-coded keys — both let you play along without reading traditional notation.
- What chords are used in "Bird On The Wire"?
- This arrangement of "Bird On The Wire" uses 4 chords: A, D, Em, G. Only a handful of chords — a great pick for early learners.
- How long does it take to learn "Bird On The Wire" on piano?
- 30–60 minutes for a basic playthrough using color-coded notes; 1–2 weeks of daily 15-min practice to perform smoothly hands-together.
- What other songs by Leonard Cohen can I play here?
- Try "A THOUSAND KISSES DEEP", "HALLELUJAH", "HALLELUJAH". All are available in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.