C G C F  C G C  G

       C           G
Like a bird on the wire,
       C                   F
Like a drunk in a midnight choir
       C           G         C    G
I have tried in my way to be free.

       C         G
Like a worm on a hook,
       C                              F
Like a knight from some old fashioned book
       C            G           C    C7
I have saved all my ribbons for thee.

   F                   C    C7
If I, if I have been unkind,
       F                                C  C7
Well I hope that you can just let it go by.
       F                   C
And if I, if I have been untrue
       F                             G   G7
Well I hope you know it was never to you.

       C          G
Like a baby, stillborn,
       C              F
Like a beast with his horn
       C        G                        C  G
I have torn everyone who reached out for me.

      C             G
But I swear by this song
       C                    F
And by all that I have done wrong
 C       G         C    C7
I will make it all up to thee.

        F                            C      C7
I saw a beggar leaning on his wooden crutch,
        F                                    C     C7
Well he said to me, "You must not ask for so much."
             F                              C    C7
And a pretty woman standing by her darkened door,
    F                            G     G7
She said to me, "why not ask for more?" 

          C           G
Oh like a bird on the wire,
       C                   F
Like a drunk in a midnight choir
       C           G         C     F C G  C
I have tried in my way to be free

* Alternate:

Open

C  = D
G  = A
F  = G
C7 = D7
G7 = A7