The Butcher Chords
The Butcher by Leonard Cohen is a moderately challenging guitar song played in the key of E. It uses the chords E, A and B7. Use the transpose and diagram tools on this page to change the key, see each shape, or simplify the chords.
/ E / E /
/ E / E /
E
I came upon a butcher,
A
he was slaughtering a lamb,
E
I accused him there
B7
with his tortured lamb.
E
He said "Listen to me, child,
A
I am what I am
E B7 A
and you, you are my only son."
/ E /
E
Well, I found a silver needle,
A
I put it into my arm.
E
It did some good,
B7
did some harm.
E
But the nights were cold
A
and it almost kept me warm,
E B7 A
how come the night is long?
/ E /
E
I saw some flowers growing up
A
where that lamb fell down;
E
was I supposed to praise my Lord,
B7
make some kind of joyful sound?
E
He said, "Listen, listen to me now,
A
I go round and round
E B7 A
and you, you are my only child."
/ E /
E
Do not leave me now,
A
do not leave me now,
E
I'm broken down
B7
from a recent fall.
E
Blood upon my body
A
and ice upon my soul,
E B7 A
lead on, my son, it is your world.
/ E / E /