Bird on a Wire
Leonard Cohen
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Like a bird on the wire Like a drunk in a midnight choir I have tried in my way to be free Like a worm on a hook Like a knight from some old-fashioned book I have saved all my ribbons for thee If I, if I have been unkind I hope that you can just let it go by If I, if I have been untrue I hope you know it was never to you For like a baby, stillborn Like a beast with his horn I have torn everyone who reached out for me But I swear by this song And by all that I have done wrong I will make it all up to thee I saw a beggar leaning on his wooden crutch He said to me, "you must not ask for so much" And a pretty woman leaning in her darkened door She cried to me, "hey, why not ask for more?" Oh, like a bird on the wire Like a drunk in a midnight choir I have tried in my way to be free
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Written by: Leonard Cohen
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
13 facts about this song
Song Origin"Bird on a Wire" was written by Leonard Cohen in 1968. He was inspired to write the song in Hydra, a Greek Island, when he saw a bird on a newly installed telephone wire.
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Powerful ImageryThe song is symbolically rich and great with visually enticing lyrics. It has poetic imageries, which has often been likened to psalms, a feature that characterizes Leonard Cohen's works.
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Release RecordThe song appeared as track #3 on his second album, 'Songs From a Room,' released in 1969.
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PerformancesSince then, it's been one of the most frequently performed songs by Cohen during his live performances.
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IncomeThe song was not a chart-topping hit for Cohen. Yet, its numerous covers have made it one of his most income-generating pieces, due to copyright earnings.
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Surprising CoverOne of the most notable covers of the song was done by American country singer Johnny Cash. This proved Leonard Cohen's versatility as a songwriter and the dynamic nature of his songs.
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MovieThe song was also the title for a Tony Palmer 1974 documentary on Cohen.
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Musical TranscriptionsSheet music for the song was first published in 'Songs From a Room: Songbook' in 1969.
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Cover Versions“Bird on a Wire” has been covered by more than 200 artists in various languages. Some renowned artists who covered the song include Joe Cocker, Willie Nelson, and Rufus Wainwright apart from Johnny Cash.
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Live RecordingsThere are many live versions of "Bird on a Wire." One of the famous ones is from the 1973 "Leonard Cohen: Live Songs." There's also the rendition from his 1979 tour, released on his 2001 album "Field Commander Cohen."
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Honorable TributeAmerican singer-songwriter k.d. lang covered "Bird on a Wire" and performed it at Leonard Cohen's induction into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2006.
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Health ConnectionCohen once stated that the song is a reminder to himself, as someone suffering from severe depression, to stay resilient like the bird on the wire and not let the circumstances drag him down.
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Quoting CohenLeonard Cohen once described the song as a 'country song' and stated that it was a simple song, but became increasingly complicated due to the many cover versions.
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Citation
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"Bird on a Wire Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 5 Oct. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/28398/Leonard+Cohen/Bird+on+a+Wire>.
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