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Richard Cory

Chords

4.7191 votes

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[Intro]
A7
[Verse]
AmThey say that Richard Cory owns one Ghalf of this whole town
With Ampolitical connections to E7spread his wealth around
D5Born into society a banker's only child
He had AmeveryGthing a Cman could want; E7power, grace and style
[Chorus]
CBut I    work in his Amfactory
And i D5curse the life I'm living,
And I curse my poverty
And i wish that I could be, oh I Cwish that I could Ambe
Oh I D5wish that i could D7be   -    Richard AmCory
[Verse]
The pAmapers print his picture almost Geverywhere he goes
Richard CAmory at the opera, Richard E7Cory at a show
And the rD5umours of his parties and the orgies on his yacht
Oh, he sAmurely mGust be hCappy with eE7verything he's got
[Chorus]
CBut I    work in his Amfactory
And I D5curse the life I'm living,
And I curse my poverty
And i wish that I could be, oh I Cwish that I could Ambe
Oh I D5wish that i could D7be   -    Richard AmCory
[Verse]
He fAmreely gave to charities, he Ghad the common touch
And they were gAmrateful for his patronage, and they E7thanked him very much
So my D5mind was filled with wonder when the evening headlines read
AmRichard GCory went Chome last night and put a Ambullet through his head
[Chorus]
CBut I    work in his Amfactory
And i D5curse the life I'm living,
And I curse my poverty
And i wish that I could be, oh I Cwish that I could Ambe
Oh I D5wish that i could E7be   -    Richard AmCory

All chords in this song (7)

The story behind the song

This song tells the story of Richard Cory from the perspective of a factory worker who envies Cory's seemingly perfect life and advantages. Despite all the worker's longing for Cory's presumed happiness, the song takes a dark turn when Richard Cory takes his own life. The song, written by Paul Simon in 1965 for the album Sounds of Silence, was inspired by a poem of the same name that he and Art Garfunkel studied in high school. It's a poignant exploration of how appearances can deceive and the hidden struggles people face.

AI-written from these sources:Richard Cory (song) — Wikipedia ↗Simon & Garfunkel — Wikipedia ↗

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Richard Cory

by Simon & Garfunkel

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

[Intro]

[Verse]

Am G

They say that Richard Cory owns one half of this whole town

Am E7

With political connections to spread his wealth around

Born into society a banker's only child

Am G C E7

He had everything a man could want; power, grace and style

[Chorus]

C Am

But I work in his factory

And i curse the life I'm living,

And I curse my poverty

C Am

And i wish that I could be, oh I wish that I could be

D5 D7 Am

Oh I wish that i could be - Richard Cory

[Verse]

Am G

The papers print his picture almost everywhere he goes

Am E7

Richard Cory at the opera, Richard Cory at a show

And the rumours of his parties and the orgies on his yacht

Am G C E7

Oh, he surely must be happy with everything he's got

[Chorus]

C Am

But I work in his factory

And I curse the life I'm living,

And I curse my poverty

C Am

And i wish that I could be, oh I wish that I could be

D5 D7 Am

Oh I wish that i could be - Richard Cory

[Verse]

Am G

He freely gave to charities, he had the common touch

Am E7

And they were grateful for his patronage, and they thanked him very much

So my mind was filled with wonder when the evening headlines read

Am G C Am

Richard Cory went home last night and put a bullet through his head

[Chorus]

C Am

But I work in his factory

And i curse the life I'm living,

And I curse my poverty

C Am

And i wish that I could be, oh I wish that I could be

D5 E7 Am

Oh I wish that i could be - Richard Cory

About Richard Cory Chords by Simon & Garfunkel

Learn how to play Richard Cory by Simon & Garfunkel with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Richard Cory chords”, “Richard Cory guitar chords”, or “Simon & Garfunkel Richard Cory chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Richard Cory chords and for experienced players who want accurate Richard Cory lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include A7, Am, G, E7, D5, C.

FAQ — Richard Cory by Simon & Garfunkel

How do I play "Richard Cory" by Simon & Garfunkel on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Richard Cory" by Simon & Garfunkel on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "Richard Cory" by Simon & Garfunkel free?

Yes. The chords for "Richard Cory" by Simon & Garfunkel are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Richard Cory" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "Richard Cory" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "Richard Cory"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Richard Cory" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Richard Cory" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Richard Cory" by Simon & Garfunkel with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Simon & Garfunkel below.

What key is "Richard Cory" in?

The chords for "Richard Cory" show the original chord names (including A7, Am, G, E7, D5, C). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.