Chords for Leonard Cohen - The Stranger Song (Official Audio)

[Em] .
[C] It's true that [Gm] all the [G] men you knew were dealers who said they were through [D] with dealing every time you [Em] gave them shelter.
[C] [D] I know that kind of man.
It's [Em] hard to hold the hand of anyone [Am] [D] who's reaching for the sky [Dm] just [Em] to surrender.
[D] Who is reaching for the sky just [Ab] to [Em] surrender.
.
[C] And then sweeping up [Gm] the [C] jokers that [G] he left behind, you find he did [D] not leave you very much, not [Em] even laughter.
[F].
[D] Like any dealer, he was [F] watching [Em] for the card that is so [D] high and wild he'll never need to [Em] deal another.
[C] He was [D].
just some Joseph looking [Em] for a manger.
[D] He was just some Joseph looking [Em] for a manger.
.
[C] And then leaning on [Gm] your window [C].
sill, [G] he'll say one day you caused his will [D] to weaken with your love and [Em] warmth and shelter.
[F] And [D] then taking from his wallet [Em] an old schedule of trains, he'll [F] say I [D].
told you when I came [C] I [Em] was a stranger.
.
[C] But now [Bb] another stranger [C] seems [G] to want you to ignore his [D] dreams as though they were the burden of [Em] some other.
[Gb].
[D] Oh, you've seen that man before, his [Em] golden arm dispatching cards, but [F] now [D] it's rusted from the elbow [Am] to [Em] the finger.
[F] [D] And he wants to trade the game he [F] plays [Em] for shelter.
[C] [D] Yes, he wants to trade the game he [F] knows [Em] for shelter.
.
[C] Oh, you hate to [Gm] watch another tired [G] man lay down his hand like he [D] was giving up the holy [Dm] game [Em] of poker.
[F].
[D] And while he talks his dreams to [F] sleep, [Em] you notice there's a highway [F] that [D] is curling up like smoke [F] above [Em] his shoulder.
[F] It's [D].
curling just like smoke above [Em] his shoulder.
.
[C] You tell him [Gm] to come in, sit [G] down, but something makes you turn around.
[D] The door is open.
You can't [Em] close your shelter.
[F].
[D] You try the handle of the [Em] road.
It opens.
Do not be afraid.
[F] It's [D].
you, my love, you who [Dm] are [Em] the stranger.
It [D] is you, my love, you who [Am] are [Em] the stranger.
.
[C] While I've been waiting, [Bb] I was [C].
sure [G] we'd meet between the trains we're [D] waiting for.
I think it's time to [Em].
board another.
.
[D] Please understand I never [Em] had a secret chart to get me to [D] the heart of this or any other [Em].
matter.
While [D] he talks like this, you don't know [Em] what he's after.
[D] When he speaks like this, you don't know [Am] what he's [Em] after.
.
[C] Let's meet tomorrow [Bb] if [G] you choose upon the shore beneath the bridge [D] that they are building on [Gm] some [Em] endless river.
.
[D] Then he leaves the platform for the [Em] sleeping car that's warm.
You realize [F].
[D] he's only advertising one [Em] more shelter that [F] [D] .
comes to you.
He never [F] was [Em] a stranger.
[D] And you say, okay, the bridge or [Dm] someplace [Em] .
later.
.
[C] And then sweeping up [Bb] the [G].
jokers that he left behind, you find he did [D] not leave you very much, [Dm] not [Em] even laughter.
.
[D] Like any dealer, he was [F].
[Em] watching for the car that is so high and [D] wild he'll never need to [Em] deal another.
[F] He [D] was just some Joseph looking [Em] for a manger.
[D] He was just some Joseph looking [Em] for a manger.
.
[C] And leaning on [Bb] your [G] .
windowsill, he'll say one day you caused his [A] will to weaken with your love and [C] warmth [Em] and shelter.
.
[D] And then taking from his wallet [Em] an old schedule of trains, he'll [F] say I [D] told you when I came I was [Em] a stranger.
[F] [D] I told you when I came I [F] was a [Em].
stranger.
[D] I told you when I came I [Ab] was a stranger.
[Em] [F] [Ab] .
[N] .