The Captain

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From Leonard Cohen's 1984 album 'Various Positions'
Enjoy!
A E
Now the Captain called me to his bed
D A
He fumbled for my hand
D A
Take these silver bars, he said
E A
I'm giving you command.
A A7
Command of what, there's no one here
D A
There's only you and me
E
All the rest are dead or in retreat
D A
Or with the enemy.
A E
Complain, complain, that's all you've done
D A
Ever since we lost
D A
If it's not the Crucifixion
E A
Then it's the Holocaust.
A A7
May Christ have mercy on your soul
D A
For making such a joke
E
Amid these hearts that burn like coal
D A
And the flesh that rose like smoke.
A E
I know that you have suffered, lad
D A
But suffer this awhile
D A
Whatever makes a soldier sad
E A
Will make a killer smile.
A A7
I'm leaving, Captain, I've got to go
D A
There's blood upon your hand
E
But tell me, Captain, if you know
D A
Of a decent place to stand.
A E
There is no decent place to stand
D A
In a massacre
D A
But if a woman take your hand
E A
Then go and stand with her.
A A7
I left a wife in Tennessee
D A
And a baby in Saigon
E
I risked my life but not to hear
D A
Some country-western song.
A E
Ah, but if you cannot raise your love
D A
To a very high degree
D A
Then you're just the man I've been thinking of
E A
So come and stand with me.
A A7
Your standing days are done, I cried,
D A
You'll rally me no more
E
I don't even know what side
D A
We fought on, or what for.
A E
I'm on the side that's always lost
D A
Against the side of Heaven
D A
I'm on the side of Snake-eyes tossed
E A
Against the side of Seven
A A7
And I've read the Bill of Human Rights
D A
And some of it was true
E
But there wasn't any burden left
D A
So I'm laying it on you.
A E
Now the Captain he was dying
D A
But the Captain wasn't hurt
D A
The silver bars were in my hand
E A
I pinned them to my shirt

The Captain chords and lyrics

Free chords for The Captain by Leonard Cohen. Scroll the interactive sheet above or read the chord names inline below.

From Leonard Cohen's 1984 album 'Various Positions'
Enjoy!

The Captain Chords by Leonard Cohen

Learn how to play The Captain by Leonard Cohen with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Captain chords”, “The Captain guitar chords”, or “Leonard Cohen The Captain 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 Captain chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Captain lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include A, E, D, A7.

Frequently asked questions about The Captain

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Is "The Captain" easy to play on guitar?

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What key is "The Captain" in?

The chords for "The Captain" show the original chord names (including A, E, D, A7). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.