[Strophe]
        A           E             A                   D 
Like a bird on the wire, like a drunk in a midnight choir 
         A          E           A   Asus4  A 
I have tried in my way to be free 
        A         E             A                             D 
Like a worm on a hook, like a knight from some old-fashioned book 
        A            E            A   Asus4  A 
I have saved all my ribbons for thee 
D                         A 
  If I, if I have been unkind 
Bm                                    A 
  I hope that you can just let it go by 
D                          A 
  If I, if I have been untrue, 
Bm                                 E   Esus4  E 
  I hope you know it was never to you.
[Strophe]
        A          E            A              D 
Like a baby stillborn, like a beast with his horn 
         A        E                      A   Asus4  A 
I have torn everyone who reached out for me. 
        A            E           A                      D 
But I swear by this song and by all that I have done wrong 
A               E          A   Asus4  A 
 I will make it all up to thee. 
D                                       A 
  I saw a beggar leaning on his wooden crutch 
Bm                                     A 
  He said to me, "You must not ask for so much." 
D                                             A 
  And a pretty woman leaning in her darkened door, 
Bm                                      E   Esus4  E 
  She cried to me, "Hey, why not ask for more?"
[Outro]
        A           E             A                   D 
Like a bird on the wire, like a drunk in a midnight choir 
         A          E          D A 
I have tried in my way to be free