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Passing Through

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Passing Through (written by R. Blakeslee - ar. L. Cohen)
[Verse 1]
      C                        F                C
I saw Jesus on the cross, on a hill called Calvary
        C                                  G
"Do you hate mankind for what they done to you?"
          C                                F                 C
He said, "Talk of love not hate, things to do - it's getting late.
        C                   G             C
I've so little time and I'm only passing through."
[Chorus]
C
Passing through, passing through.
                           C7
Sometimes happy, sometimes blue,
          F          C
Glad that I ran into you
         C               G               C
Tell the people that you saw me passing through.
[Verse 2]
      C                             F            C
I saw Adam leave the Garden with an apple in his hand,
        C                                  G
I said "Now you're out, what are you gonna do?"
            C                              F              C
"Plant some crops and pray for rain, maybe raise a little Cain.
        C                  G             C
I'm an orphan now, and I'm only passing through." (And so are you).
[Chorus]
C
Passing through, passing through.
                           C7
Sometimes happy, sometimes blue,
          F          C
Glad that I ran into you
         C               G               C
Tell the people that you saw me passing through.
[Verse 3]
           C                           F                 C
I was with Washington at Valley Forge, shivering in the snow.
         C                                      G
I said, "How come the men here suffer like they do?"
          C                            F               C
"Men will suffer, men will fight, even die for what is right
      C                       G             C
even though they know they're only passing through"
[Chorus]
C
Passing through, passing through.
                           C7
Sometimes happy, sometimes blue,
          F          C
Glad that I ran into you
         C               G               C
Tell the people that you saw me passing through.
[Verse 4]
         C                                F               C
I was at Franklin Roosevelt's side on the night before he died.
          C                                    G
He said, "One world must come out of World War Two" (ah, the fool)
         C                                   F              C
"Yankee, Russian, white or tan," he said, "A man is still a man.
          C                      G             C
We're all on one road, and we're only passing through."
[Chorus]
C
Passing through, passing through.
                           C7
Sometimes happy, sometimes blue,
          F          C
Glad that I ran into you
         C               G               C
Tell the people that you saw me passing through.
(let's do it one more time)
C
Passing through, passing through.
                           C7
Sometimes happy, sometimes blue,
          F          C
Glad that I ran into you
         C               G               C
Tell the people that you saw me passing through.
---
The French songwriter Graeme Allwright sings also this song. Here are the
French lyrics.
de passage
J'ai vu J?sus sur la croix sur le mont Golgotha
J'ai dit "En veux-tu aux hommes pour ce qu'ils t'ont fait"
Il dit: "Parle d'amour et pas de haine
Pour toute la race humaine
J'ai si peu de temps je suis seulement de passage."
De passage, de passage
Parfois heureux, parfois "triste",
Je suis bien content de t'avoir croisé
Dis aux gens que tu m'as vu de passage.
J'ai vu Adam quitter le jardin une pomme dans sa main
J'ai dit: "Et maintenant qu'est-ce tu vas faire ?"
"Je travaillerai la terre, et je ferai des pri?res
Je suis orphelin, je suis seulement de passage"
De passage, de passage ...
J'ai suivi Washington at Valley Forge, grelottant de froid
J'ai dit: "Pourquoi les hommes souffrent tant ici?"
"Pour une cause ils peuvent souffrir, sont m?me pr?ts ? mourir
Meme s'ils savent qu'ils sont seulement de passage."
De passage, de passage ...

Passing Through chords and lyrics

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

Passing Through (written by R. Blakeslee - ar. L. Cohen)
[Verse 1]
[Chorus]
[Verse 2]
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]
[Chorus]
[Verse 4]
[Chorus]
(let's do it one more time)
---
The French songwriter Graeme Allwright sings also this song. Here are the
French lyrics.
de passage
J'ai vu J?sus sur la croix sur le mont Golgotha
J'ai dit "En veux-tu aux hommes pour ce qu'ils t'ont fait"
Il dit: "Parle d'amour et pas de haine
Pour toute la race humaine
J'ai si peu de temps je suis seulement de passage."
De passage, de passage
Parfois heureux, parfois "triste",
Je suis bien content de t'avoir croisé
Dis aux gens que tu m'as vu de passage.
J'ai vu Adam quitter le jardin une pomme dans sa main
J'ai dit: "Et maintenant qu'est-ce tu vas faire ?"
"Je travaillerai la terre, et je ferai des pri?res
Je suis orphelin, je suis seulement de passage"
De passage, de passage ...
J'ai suivi Washington at Valley Forge, grelottant de froid
J'ai dit: "Pourquoi les hommes souffrent tant ici?"
"Pour une cause ils peuvent souffrir, sont m?me pr?ts ? mourir
Meme s'ils savent qu'ils sont seulement de passage."
De passage, de passage ...

Passing Through Chords by Leonard Cohen

Learn how to play Passing Through by Leonard Cohen with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Passing Through chords”, “Passing Through guitar chords”, or “Leonard Cohen Passing Through 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 Passing Through chords and for experienced players who want accurate Passing Through lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, F, G, C7, A.

Frequently asked questions about Passing Through

How do I play "Passing Through" by Leonard Cohen on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Passing Through" 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 "Passing Through" by Leonard Cohen free?

Yes. The chords for "Passing Through" by Leonard Cohen are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Passing Through" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "Passing Through"?

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

Is "Passing Through" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Passing Through" 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 "Passing Through" in?

The chords for "Passing Through" show the original chord names (including C, F, G, C7, A). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.