Last Years Man

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Last Year's Man
By Leonard Cohen
Tab: Eamonn Bolger
Pick the chords as follows:
G G
e|-----3---3---| |-------3-----|
B|-----0---0---| |-----0---0---|
G|---0---0---0-| or, if you want: |---0-------0-|
D|-------------| |-------------|
A|-------------| |-------------|
e|-3-----------| |-3-----------|
/ / / / / / / / / / / /
Each slash is an eighth note
[Verse 1]
G Em
The rain falls down on last year's man
F C
That's a Jews harp on the table, that's a crayon in his hand.
G Em
And the corners of the blue print are ruined since they rolled
F C
Far past the stems of thumb tacks that still throw shadows on the wood.
F D G D
And the skylight is like the skin for a drum I'll never mend
G Em F C
And all the rain falls down, Amen, on the works of last year's man.
[Verse 2]
G Em
I met a lady, she was playing with her soldiers in the dark
F C
Oh, one by one she had to tell them that her name was Joan of Arc.
G Em
I was in that army, yes I stayed a little while
F C
I want to thank you Joan of Arc for treating me so well.
F D G D
And tho' I wear a uniform I was not born to fight
G Em F C
All these wounded boys you lie beside; good night my friends, goodnight.
[Verse 3]
G Em
I came upon a wedding that old fam'lies had contrived
F C
Bethlehem the bridegroom Babylon the bride.
G Em
Great Babylon was naked Ah! she stood there trembling for me
F C
And Bethlehem inflamed us both like the shy one at some orgy.
F D G D
And when we fell together all our flesh was like a veil
G Em F C
That I had to draw aside to see the serpent eat its tail.
[Verse 4]
G Em
Some women wait for Jesus and some women wait for Cain
F C
So I hang upon my altar and I hoist my axe again.
G Em
And I take the one who finds me back to where it all began
F C
When Jesus was the honeymoon and Cain was just the man.
F D G D
And we read from pleasant Bibles that are bound in blood an skin
G Em F C
That the wilderness is gathering all its children back again.
[Verse 5]
G Em
The rain falls down on last year's man
F C
An hour has gone by and he has not moved his hand.
G Em
But everything will happen if he only gives the word
F C
The lovers will rise up and the mountains touch the ground.
F D G D
But the skylight is like skin for a drum I'll never mend
G Em F C
And all the rain falls down, Amen, on the works of last year's man.
[Outro]
G Em F C

Last Years Man chords and lyrics

Free chords for Last Years Man by Leonard Cohen. Scroll the interactive sheet above or read the chord names inline below.

Last Year's Man
By Leonard Cohen
Tab: Eamonn Bolger
Pick the chords as follows:
Each slash is an eighth note
[Verse 1]
[Verse 2]
[Verse 3]
[Verse 4]
[Verse 5]
[Outro]
G       Em      F       C

Last Years Man Chords by Leonard Cohen

Learn how to play Last Years Man by Leonard Cohen with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Last Years Man chords”, “Last Years Man guitar chords”, or “Leonard Cohen Last Years Man 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 Last Years Man chords and for experienced players who want accurate Last Years Man lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, B, D, A, Em, F.

Frequently asked questions about Last Years Man

How do I play "Last Years Man" by Leonard Cohen on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Last Years Man" 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 "Last Years Man" by Leonard Cohen free?

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Can I transpose "Last Years Man" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "Last Years Man"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Last Years Man" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Last Years Man" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Last Years Man" 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 "Last Years Man" in?

The chords for "Last Years Man" show the original chord names (including G, B, D, A, Em, F). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.