Avalanche Uke tab by Leonard Cohen

Em                C       
I stepped into an avalanche,
Em          D       Em
it covered up my soul;
                   C                    
When I am not this hunchback that you see,
Em        D                Em
I sleep beneath a golden hill.
G               D
You who wish to conquer pain,
         Em                       C  B7
you must learn, learn to serve me we-ell.

Em                    C        
You strike my side by accident
Em        D             Em
As you go down for your gold.
                          C
The cripple here that you clothe and feed
Em         D           Em
Is neither starved nor cold;
G                        D
He does not ask for your company,
              Em                     C   B7
Not at the center, the center of the wo-orld.

Em             C      
When I am on a pedestal,
Em          D        Em
You did not raise me there.
                    C
Your laws do not compel me
Em       D             Em
To kneel grotesque and bare.
G               D
I myself am the pedestal
         Em                     C   B7
For this ugly hump at which you sta-are.

Em              C          
You who wish to conquer pain,
Em        D                  Em
You must learn what makes me kind;
                            C
The crumbs of love that you offer me,
Em          D               Em
They’re the crumbs I’ve left behind.
G                  D
Your pain is no credential here,
              Em                   C  B7
It’s just the shadow, shadow of my wo-ound.

Em              C          Em
I have begun to long for you,
      D        Em
I who have no greed;
                C
I have begun to ask for you,
Em    D    Em
I who have no need.
G                    D
You say you’ve gone away from me,
    Em                      C   B7
But I can feel you when you bre-eathe.
 
Em                    C          Em
Do not dress in those rags for me,
           D       Em
I know you are not poor;
                           C
And don’t love me quite so fiercely now
Em       D                     Em
When you know that you are not sure,
G                  D
It is your turn, beloved,
          Em                C  B7
And it is your flesh that I we-ear.
 
Em