The Stranger Song
Chords
5.093 votes
15
Original
Scroll
Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams
1/60
Sound:
Step 1 / 60Position: 2
1 index2 middle3 ring4 pinkyO open
Leonard Cohen - The Stranger Song
Live at the Paris Theatre, London - 1968
e|--F#m------------------------F#sus4--------F#m-----------------|
B|------2-----2-----2-----2------2-----2-----2-----2-|
G|----2-----2-----2-----2------4-----2-----2-----2---|
D|--------4-----------4------------4-----------4-----|
A|--------------4------------------------4-----------|
E|--2------------------------2-----------------------|
e|--D/A----2-----2----2-----2-C----0-----0-D/A----2-----2-A----0-----0-----0-----0-|
B|----3-----3----3-----3-----1-----1-----3-----3-----2-----2-----2-----2---|
G|--------2----------2-----------0-----------2-----------2-----------2-----|
D|-------------0-----------------------0-----------------------2-----------|
A|--0----------------------3-----------------------0-----------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
[Verse 1]
F#mIt's D/Atrue that all the Cmen you D/Aknew were Adealers
Who said Athey were through with Edealing
Every Etime you gave them F#mshelF#sus4terF#m
I Eknow that kind of Esus4manE
It's hard to F#mhold the hand of F#sus4anyoneF#m
Who's Ereaching for the Esus4sky Ejust to surF#mrendeF#sus4rF#m
Who is Ereaching for the Esus4sky juEst to surF#mrendeF#sus4rF#m F#sus4
[Verse 2]
F#mAnd then D/Asweeping up the Cjokers tD/Ahat he Aleft behind
You'll Afind he did not Eleave you very much
Not even F#mlaugF#sus4hterF#m
Like Eany dealer he Esus4was waEtching for the F#mcard
That F#sus4is so hF#migh and wiEld
He'll never need to EdeEsus4al anotheF#mrF#sus4 F#m
He was jEust some Joseph Esus4lookinEg for a mangF#merF#sus4 F#m
He was jEust some Joseph Esus4lookinEg for a mangF#merF#sus4 F#m F#sus4
[Verse 3]
F#mAnd thD/Aen leaning on your Cwindow D/Asill
He'll Asay one day you Acaused his will
To wEeaken with your love and warmth and sF#mhelteF#sus4rF#m
And then tEaking from his waEsus4lletE
An old F#mschedF#sus4ule of F#mtrains, he'll say
I Etold you when I Esus4came I Ewas a F#mstranF#sus4gerF#m
I Etold you when I Esus4came I Ewas a F#mstranF#sus4gerF#m
[Verse 4]
F#mOh but D/Anow another sCtranger D/Aseems
To Awant you to igAnore his dreams
As Ethough they were the Eburden of some F#motherF#sus4 F#m
You've Eseen that man beEsus4foreE
His golden F#marm dispatching F#sus4cardsF#m
But now it's Erusted from the Esus4elbow Eto the F#mfingeF#sus4rF#m
And he Ewants to trade the Esus4game hEe plays for F#msheltF#sus4erF#m
Yes he Ewants to trade the Esus4game hEe knows for F#msheltF#sus4erF#m
[Verse 5]
F#mAh you D/Ahate to watch Canother D/Atired Aman
Lay down his Ahand
Like he was Egiving up the Eholy game of F#mpokerF#sus4 F#m
And Ewhile he talks his Edreams to sleep
You F#mnotice there's a F#sus4highwayF#m
That is Ecurling up like Esus4smoke aEbove his F#mshoulF#sus4derF#m
It's Ecurling just like Esus4smoke aEbove his F#mshoulF#sus4derF#m
[Verse 6]
F#mWell, you D/Atell him to come Cin sit D/Adown
But sAomething makes you Aturn around
The Edoor is open Eyou can't close your F#msheltF#sus4erF#
You Etry the handle Esus4of the Eroad
It F#mopens do not F#sus4be afraF#mid
It's Eyou my love, Esus4you, whEo are the F#mstranF#sus4gerF#m
It's Eyou my love, Esus4you, whEo are the F#mstranF#sus4gerF#m
[Verse 6]
F#mWell, I D/Ahave been waiting, CI was D/Asure
We'd Ameet between the Atrains we're waiting Efor
I think it's Etime to board anF#motherF#sus4 F#m
Please Eunderstand, I Esus4never hEad a F#msecret chart
F#sus4To get F#mme to the Eheart of this
Or Esus4any otEher mF#matterF#sus4 F#m
When he Etalks like this you Esus4don't kEnow what he's F#mafterF#sus4 F#m
When he Espeaks like this, you Esus4don't kEnow what he's F#mafterF#sus4 F#m
[Verse 7]
F#mLet's D/Ameet tomorrow Cif you D/Achoose
UpAon the shore, Abeneath the bridge
That Ethey are building Eon some endless F#mriverF#sus4 F#m
Then he Eleaves the platform
Esus4For thEe sleeping F#mcar that's warm
You rF#sus4ealize, F#mhe's Eonly advertEsus4ising Eone more F#msheltF#sus4erF#m
And it Ecomes to you, he Esus4never Ewas a F#mstranF#sus4gerF#m
And you Esay okay the Esus4bridge Eor someplace F#mlaterF#sus4 F#m
[Verse 8]
F#mAnd then D/Asweeping up the jCokers D/Athat he lAeft behind
You Afind he did not Eleave you very much
Not even F#mlaugF#sus4hterF#m
Like Eany dealer Esus4he was Ewatching F#mfor the card
That F#sus4is so hF#migh and Ewild
He'll Enever Esus4need to deal F#manothF#sus4erF#m
He was jEust some Joseph Esus4looking Efor a F#mmangeF#sus4rF#m
He was jEust some Joseph Esus4looking Efor a F#mmangeF#sus4rF#m F#sus4
[Verse 9]
F#mAnd thD/Aen leaning on your Cwindow D/Asill
He'll Asay one day you Acaused his will
To Eweaken with your Elove and warmth and F#msheltF#sus4erF#m
And Etaking from his Esus4walletE
An old F#mschedF#sus4ule of F#mtrains, he'll say
I Etold you when I Esus4came I Ewas a F#mstranF#sus4gerF#m F#sus4
I Etold you when I Esus4came I Ewas a F#mstranF#sus4gerF#m F#sus4
I Etold you when I Esus4came I Ewas a F#mstranF#sus4gerF#m F#sus4
All chords in this song (8)
🎸 Tips from players
Got a tip for playing this song — capo position, easier chords, strumming? Be the first to share one.
Chord Book
670,000+ free guitar chords · free-chords.com
The Stranger Song
by Leonard Cohen
Chords in this song · guitar
F#m
F#sus4
D/A
C
A
E
Esus4
F#
Leonard Cohen - The Stranger Song
Live at the Paris Theatre, London - 1968
F#m F#sus4 F#m
e|---------------------------------------------------|
B|------2-----2-----2-----2------2-----2-----2-----2-|
G|----2-----2-----2-----2------4-----2-----2-----2---|
D|--------4-----------4------------4-----------4-----|
A|--------------4------------------------4-----------|
E|--2------------------------2-----------------------|
D/A C D/A A
e|------2-----2----2-----2-----0-----0-----2-----2-----0-----0-----0-----0-|
B|----3-----3----3-----3-----1-----1-----3-----3-----2-----2-----2-----2---|
G|--------2----------2-----------0-----------2-----------2-----------2-----|
D|-------------0-----------------------0-----------------------2-----------|
A|--0----------------------3-----------------------0-----------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
[Verse 1]
F#m D/A C D/A A
It's true that all the men you knew were dealers
A E
Who said they were through with dealing
E F#m F#sus4 F#m
Every time you gave them shelter
E Esus4 E
I know that kind of man
F#m F#sus4 F#m
It's hard to hold the hand of anyone
E Esus4 E F#m F#sus4 F#m
Who's reaching for the sky just to surrender
E Esus4 E F#m F#sus4 F#m F#sus4
Who is reaching for the sky just to surrender
[Verse 2]
F#m D/A C D/A A
And then sweeping up the jokers that he left behind
A E
You'll find he did not leave you very much
F#m F#sus4 F#m
Not even laughter
E Esus4 E F#m
Like any dealer he was watching for the card
F#sus4 F#m E
That is so high and wild
E Esus4 F#m F#sus4 F#m
He'll never need to deal another
E Esus4 E F#m F#sus4 F#m
He was just some Joseph looking for a manger
E Esus4 E F#m F#sus4 F#m F#sus4
He was just some Joseph looking for a manger
[Verse 3]
F#m D/A C D/A
And then leaning on your window sill
A A
He'll say one day you caused his will
E F#m F#sus4 F#m
To weaken with your love and warmth and shelter
E Esus4 E
And then taking from his wallet
F#m F#sus4 F#m
An old schedule of trains, he'll say
E Esus4 E F#m F#sus4 F#m
I told you when I came I was a stranger
E Esus4 E F#m F#sus4 F#m
I told you when I came I was a stranger
[Verse 4]
F#m D/A C D/A
Oh but now another stranger seems
A A
To want you to ignore his dreams
E E F#m F#sus4 F#m
As though they were the burden of some other
E Esus4 E
You've seen that man before
F#m F#sus4 F#m
His golden arm dispatching cards
E Esus4 E F#m F#sus4 F#m
But now it's rusted from the elbow to the finger
E Esus4 E F#m F#sus4 F#m
And he wants to trade the game he plays for shelter
E Esus4 E F#m F#sus4 F#m
Yes he wants to trade the game he knows for shelter
[Verse 5]
F#m D/A C D/A A
Ah you hate to watch another tired man
A
Lay down his hand
E E F#m F#sus4 F#m
Like he was giving up the holy game of poker
E E
And while he talks his dreams to sleep
F#m F#sus4 F#m
You notice there's a highway
E Esus4 E F#m F#sus4 F#m
That is curling up like smoke above his shoulder
E Esus4 E F#m F#sus4 F#m
It's curling just like smoke above his shoulder
[Verse 6]
F#m D/A C D/A
Well, you tell him to come in sit down
A A
But something makes you turn around
E E F#m F#sus4 F#
The door is open you can't close your shelter
E Esus4 E
You try the handle of the road
F#m F#sus4 F#m
It opens do not be afraid
E Esus4 E F#m F#sus4 F#m
It's you my love, you, who are the stranger
E Esus4 E F#m F#sus4 F#m
It's you my love, you, who are the stranger
[Verse 6]
F#m D/A C D/A
Well, I have been waiting, I was sure
A A E
We'd meet between the trains we're waiting for
E F#m F#sus4 F#m
I think it's time to board another
E Esus4 E F#m
Please understand, I never had a secret chart
F#sus4 F#m E
To get me to the heart of this
Esus4 E F#m F#sus4 F#m
Or any other matter
E Esus4 E F#m F#sus4 F#m
When he talks like this you don't know what he's after
E Esus4 E F#m F#sus4 F#m
When he speaks like this, you don't know what he's after
[Verse 7]
F#m D/A C D/A
Let's meet tomorrow if you choose
A A
Upon the shore, beneath the bridge
E E F#m F#sus4 F#m
That they are building on some endless river
E
Then he leaves the platform
Esus4 E F#m
For the sleeping car that's warm
F#sus4 F#m E Esus4 E F#m F#sus4 F#m
You realize, he's only advertising one more shelter
E Esus4 E F#m F#sus4 F#m
And it comes to you, he never was a stranger
E Esus4 E F#m F#sus4 F#m
And you say okay the bridge or someplace later
[Verse 8]
F#m D/A C D/A A
And then sweeping up the jokers that he left behind
A E
You find he did not leave you very much
F#m F#sus4 F#m
Not even laughter
E Esus4 E F#m
Like any dealer he was watching for the card
F#sus4 F#m E
That is so high and wild
E Esus4 F#m F#sus4 F#m
He'll never need to deal another
E Esus4 E F#m F#sus4 F#m
He was just some Joseph looking for a manger
E Esus4 E F#m F#sus4 F#m F#sus4
He was just some Joseph looking for a manger
[Verse 9]
F#m D/A C D/A
And then leaning on your window sill
A A
He'll say one day you caused his will
E E F#m F#sus4 F#m
To weaken with your love and warmth and shelter
E Esus4 E
And taking from his wallet
F#m F#sus4 F#m
An old schedule of trains, he'll say
E Esus4 E F#m F#sus4 F#m F#sus4
I told you when I came I was a stranger
E Esus4 E F#m F#sus4 F#m F#sus4
I told you when I came I was a stranger
E Esus4 E F#m F#sus4 F#m F#sus4
I told you when I came I was a stranger
Get the free app — iPhone: The Chord Book on the App Store · Android: Free Chords on Google Play
Lyrics and compositions © their respective songwriters and publishers. Free for personal practice.
About The Stranger Song Chords by Leonard Cohen
Learn how to play The Stranger Song by Leonard Cohen with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Stranger Song chords”, “The Stranger Song guitar chords”, or “Leonard Cohen The Stranger Song 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 The Stranger Song chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Stranger Song lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include F#m, F#sus4, B, G, D, A.
FAQ — The Stranger Song by Leonard Cohen
How do I play "The Stranger Song" by Leonard Cohen on guitar?
Open the free chords for "The Stranger Song" by Leonard Cohen 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 "The Stranger Song" by Leonard Cohen free?
Yes. The chords for "The Stranger Song" by Leonard Cohen are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.
Can I transpose "The Stranger Song" to a different key?
Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "The Stranger Song" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.
Can I see chord diagrams for "The Stranger Song"?
Yes. Tap any chord in "The Stranger Song" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.
Is "The Stranger Song" easy to play on guitar?
Many players learn "The Stranger Song" by Leonard Cohen with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Leonard Cohen below.
What key is "The Stranger Song" in?
The chords for "The Stranger Song" show the original chord names (including F#m, F#sus4, B, G, D, A). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.