Songs from a Room:

The Old Revolution

written by Leonard Cohen

Intro: E

   E     A                  E
I finally broke into the prison
B            B7           E     E7
I found my place in the chain
A                  E             Am
Even damnation is poisoned with rainbows
E                      G#                             C#m
All the brave young men they're waiting now to see a signal
            A              F#m          B     B7
Which some killer will be lighting for pay

A                   E               Am
Into this furnace I ask you now to venture
 E          B         A     E
You whom I cannot betray

I fought in the old revolution
On the side of the ghost and the King
Of course I was very young and I thought that we were winning
I can't pretend I still feel very much like singing
As they carry the bodies away

Into this furnace I ask you now to venture
You whom I cannot betray

Lately you've started to stutter
As though you had nothing to say
To all of my architects let me be traitor
Now let me say I myself gave the order
To sleep and to search and to destroy

Into this furnace I ask you now to venture
You whom I cannot betray

Yes, you who are broken by power
You who are absent all day
You who are kings for the sake of your children's story
The hand of your beggar is burdened down with money
The hand of your lover is clay

Into this furnace I ask you now to venture
You whom I cannot betray