So Long, Marianne | Chords + Lyrics
Intro
|6/8 A A/E | Asus4 A |
Verse 1
| A | A | Bm | Bm |
Come over to the window, my little darling,
| D | D | A | A |
I’d like to try to read your palm.
| G | G | D | D |
I used to think I was some kind of Gypsy boy,
| F#m | F#m | E | E |
before I let you take me home.
Chorus 1
| A | A | F#m | F#m |
Now so long, Marianne, it’s time that we began,
| E | E | E | E |
to laugh, and cry, and cry, and laugh about it all again.
Instrumental 1
||: A A/E | Asus4 A :|| A A/E |
Verse 2
| A | A | Bm | Bm |
Well, you know that I love to live with you,
| D | D | A | A |
but you make me forget so very much.
| G | G | D | D |
I forget to pray for the angels,
| F#m | F#m | E | E |
and then the angels forget to pray for us.
Chorus 2
| A | A | F#m | F#m |
Now so long, Marianne, it’s time that we began,
| E | E | E | E |
to laugh, (and) and cry, (and) and cry (and) and laugh about it all again.
Instrumental 2
||: A A/E | Asus4 A :|| A A/E |
Verse 3
| A | A | Bm | Bm |
We met when we were almost young,
| D | D | A | A |
deep in the green lilac park.
| G | G | D | D |
You held on to me like I was a crucifix,
| F#m | F#m | E | E |
as we went kneeling through the dark.
Chorus 3
| A | A | F#m | F#m |
Oh, so long, Marianne, it’s time that we began,
| E | E | E | E |
to laugh, (and) and cry, (and) and cry (and) and laugh about it all again.
Instrumental 3
||: A A/E | Asus4 A :|| A A/E |
Verse 4
| A | A | Bm | Bm |
Your letters they all say that you’re beside me now.
| D | D | A | A |
Then why do I feel alone?
| G | G | D | D |
I’m standing on a ledge and your fine spider web,
| F#m | F#m | E | E |
is fastening my ankle to a stone.
Chorus 4
| A | A | F#m | F#m |
Now so long, Marianne, it’s time that we began,
| E | E | E | E |
to laugh, (and) and cry, (and) and cry (and) and laugh about it all again.
Instrumental 4
||: A A/E | Asus4 A :|| A A/E |
Verse 5
| A | A | Bm | Bm |
For now I need your hidden love.
| D | D | A | A |
I’m cold as a new razor blade.
| G | G | D | D |
You left when I told you I was curious,
| F#m | F#m | E | E |
I never said that I was brave.
Chorus 5
| A | A | F#m | F#m |
Oh, so long, Marianne, it’s time that we began,
| E | E | E | E |
to laugh, (and) and cry, (and) and cry (and) and laugh about it all again.
Instrumental 5
||: A A/E | Asus4 A :|| A A/E |
Verse 6
| A | A | Bm | Bm |
Oh, you are really such a pretty one.
| D | D | A | A |
I see you’ve gone and changed your name again.
| G | G | D | D |
And just when I climbed this whole mountainside,
| F#m | F#m | E | E |
to wash my eyelids in the rain!.
Chorus 6
| A | A | F#m | F#m |
Oh, so long, Marianne, it’s time that we began,
| E | E | E | E |
to laugh, (and) and cry, (and) and cry (and) and laugh about it all again.
Outro
||: A A/E | Asus4 A :|| A |
So Long, Marianne’s chords, progressions, and TAB
One of Leonard Cohen‘s early hits, So Long, Marianne was one of the tunes that spread the word about the poet-turned-songwriter.
Released on the debut 1967 debut album, Song Of Leonard Cohen, it has stood the test of time, being covered by many artists including Beck and Suzanne Vega.
The song itself is about an actual woman called Marianne who Leonard met in Greece and later ended up living with in Canada.
Before you start playing along with the original recording using the chords and lyrics above, tune sharp to 447Hz using my online guitar tuner. This way, you’ll be on the same frequency as Mr. Cohen himself.
As a member, you get TAB for how to comp this on one acoustic guitar, there’s some nice alternating bass line work that you can apply should you not have an actual bass player at hand provided.
Here’s a link to the complete lesson (members only): So Long, Marianne chord analysis, and TAB.
Become a member today and get unlimited access to all my guitar courses, the SEPR practice route, and the eBook Spytunes Method – You can learn guitar!
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Following a career as a novelist and poet for over a decade, Leonard Cohen released his debut album in 1967.
His best tunes include Suzanne, Bird on the Wire, Famous Blue Raincoat, Chelsea Hotel #2, Hallelujah, Dance Me To The End Of Love, and So Long, Marianne.
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