Words by Leonard Cohen, music by Adam Cohen
C
She said she was a maiden, that wasn't what I heard
(C)
For the sake of conversation I took her at her word
C G/c
The lights went out behind us, the fireflies undressed
C F/c
The broken sidewalk ended, I touched her sleeping breasts
C G/c
They opened to me urgently like lilies from the dead
C F/c
Behind a fine embroidery her nipples rose like bread
C G/c
Then I took of my necktie and she took of her dress
C F/c
My belt and pistol set aside, we tore away the rest
C (Csus4... C)
The night of Santiago and I was passing through
F C
So I took her to the river as any man would do
(C)
Her thighs they slipped away from me like schools of startled fish
n.c.
Though I've forgotten half my life, I still remember this
Now, as a man I won't repeat the things she said aloud
Except for this, my lips are sealed forever and for now
And soon there's sand in every kiss, and soon the dawn is ready
And soon the night surrenders to a daffodil machete
I gave her something pretty and I waited till she laughed
I wasn't born a gypsy to make a women sad
The night of Santiago and I was passing through
So I took her to the river as any man would do
The night of Santiago and I was passing through
So I took her to the river as any man would do
I didn't fall in love of course, it's never up to you
But she was walking back and forth and I was passing through
C#maj7(/f)
When I took her to the river in her virginal apparel
G (G#... G)
When I took her to the river on that night of Santiago
And yes she lied about it all: her children and her husband
You were born to judge the world, forgive me, but I wasn't
The night of Santiago and I was passing through
So I took her to the river as any man would do