Avalanche
Leonard CohenVersion1TuningE2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4 (low to high)
TuningE2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4 (low to high) Download chord source (.txt)
90
Practice playback uses estimated timing for this text arrangement.
Chords in this song
Strum
D-DU-UDU
Well I stepped into an avalanche,
It covered up my soul;
When I am not this hunchback that you see,
I sleep beneath the golden hill.
You who wish to conquer pain,
You must learn, learn to serve me well.
You strike my side by accident
As you go down for your gold.
The cripple here that you clothe and feed
Is neither starved nor cold;
He does not ask for your company,
Not at the centre, the centre of the world.
When I am on a pedestal,
You did not raise me there.
Your laws do not compel me
To kneel grotesque and bare.
I myself am the pedestal
For this ugly hump at which you stare.
You who wish to conquer pain,
You must learn what makes me kind;
The crumbs of love that you offer me,
Theyre the crumbs Ive left behind.
Your pain is no credential here,
Its just the shadow, shadow of my wound.
I have begun to long for you,
I who have no greed;
I have begun to ask for you,
I who have no need.
You say youve gone away from me,
But I can feel you when you breathe.
Do not dress in those rags for me,
I know you are not poor;
You dont love me quite so fiercely now
When you know that you are not sure,
It is your turn, beloved,
It is your flesh that I wear.
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Readable chord sheet for Avalanche by Leonard Cohen
Tuning: E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4 (low to high)
[Fm]Well I stepped into an [C#]avalanche, [Fm]It covered [D#]up my [Fm]soul; [Fm]When I am not this [C#]hunchback that you see, [Fm]I sleep ben[D#]eath the [Fm]golden hill. [G#]You who wish to [C]conquer pain, You must [Fm]learn, learn to serve me [C#]well. You strike my side by accident As you go down for your gold. The cripple here that you clothe and feed Is neither starved nor cold; He does not ask for your company, Not at the centre, the centre of the world. When I am on a pedestal, You did not raise me there. Your laws do not compel me To kneel grotesque and bare. I myself am the pedestal For this ugly hump at which you stare. You who wish to conquer pain, You must learn what makes me kind; The crumbs of love that you offer me, Theyre the crumbs Ive left behind. Your pain is no credential here, Its just the shadow, shadow of my wound. I have begun to long for you, I who have no greed; I have begun to ask for you, I who have no need. You say youve gone away from me, But I can feel you when you breathe. Do not dress in those rags for me, I know you are not poor; You dont love me quite so fiercely now When you know that you are not sure, It is your turn, beloved, It is your flesh that I wear.